The Committee shall develop and promote a statewide, year-round fire and life safety prevention program.

The program shall be planned and promoted to inform the people of Maryland of all age groups.

The program shall be developed and carried forward in cooperation with the Director of the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI) and the State Fire Marshal, who will serve as technical advisers to the Committee. The committee may enlist the aid of any interested organization, group or individuals at the discretion of the Fire Prevention & Life Safety Committee or at the direction of the Executive Committee.

The Committee shall furnish a written report at each meeting of the Executive Committee, and it shall present a complete report of committee activities during the year to the delegates assembled at the Annual MSFA Convention and Conference .

The Committee shall maintain a liaison between the Governor’s Fire Prevention Conference and the MSFA.

Promote fire and injury prevention and life safety education throughout the year.

Have a fire and injury prevention display at all MSFA functions throughout the state and at all Executive Committee meetings.

The message on display should change at each meeting.

Develop and promote a watch program.

Coordinate with each county or regional association that has a safety house and develop a partnership and assist in displaying these safety houses.

Develop, produce, and distribute written and media materials that include fire and injury prevention messages to include: posters, billboards, web-based materials, and other formats that promote fire and injury prevention and life safety messages in local communities and statewide.

Smoke Alarms
The MSFA Fire Prevention & Life Safety Committee would like to remind each company to make sure they have smoke alarms available to give to citizens. We recommend that companies contact their local hardware stores to try to get a discounted price on the smoke alarms. When a citizen asks for a smoke alarm, a member of the fire company should install the smoke alarm for them. The citizen should sign a release form after the smoke alarm has been properly installed.

Hearing Impaired Smoke Alarms
The MSFA Fire Prevention & Life Safety Committee would like to remind each company that hearing-impaired smoke alarms are available for citizens. To obtain a hearing-impaired smoke alarms for a citizen just contact the MSFA Fire Prevention Chair.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms
The MSFA Fire Prevention & Life Safety Committee would like to remind each company to make sure they have carbon monoxide alarms available to give to citizens. We recommend that companies contact their local hardware stores to try to get a discounted price on the smoke alarms. When a citizen asks for a carbon monoxide alarm a member of the fire company should install the carbon monoxide alarm for them. The citizen should sign a release form after the carbon monoxide alarm has been properly installed.

911 Simulator
A 911 Simulator is available for companies to use at open houses, in classrooms, etc. Contact the MSFA Fire Prevention Chair to obtain the 911 Simulator.

The MSFA Fire Prevention & Life Safety Committee is a lead member of the Maryland Risk Watch Community that includes 15 communities with RISK WATCH® programs in community safety education, school classrooms, after school programs, home schooling programs, hospital prevention programs, and Safe Kids Coalitions. The RISK WATCH® curriculum includes fire and injury prevention and disaster preparedness educational resources that are targeting children from preschool through eighth grade. Maryland’s Risk Watch work includes activities and programs for both children and youth merging prevention materials from American Trauma Society, Department of Natural Resources, FEMA Ready, NFPA, Poison Center, and Safe Kids Worldwide. Unique to Maryland’s Risk Watch initiatives is that the implementation includes a special focus on children with special learning and health care needs in Prince George’s County. The Emergency Medical Services for Children program at MIEMSS is the lead agency coordinating this ongoing program. Ongoing Risk Watch programs include:

1. Prevention training and resource sharing at MSFA Committee meetings each year
2. Prevention & Life Safety educational display at four MSFA Executive Committee meetings each year
3. Interactive prevention educational displays for children, youth and families during the annual MSFA Convention with outreach to youth members to assist with the education
4. Participation in Safe Kids Maryland and seven local coalition meetings and activities throughout the year
5. Dissemination of training DVD “What to Expect When you Dial 9-1-1” and “Right Care When It Counts”
6. Development of media and training materials specific to injury risk areas