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Public Education Programs - Contact 925-941-3327

On this page you will find our fire and life safety programs
Antioch Dunes Basic Home Be Cool CERT Emergency Preparedness Home Inspection Middle School Mobile Home	On The Job Pluggie the Robot Parents of Pre-Schoolers Puppet Show Safety Fairs Senior Citizens Smoke Detector Give Away Using a Fire Extinguisher Wheels of Fire

Community Emergency Response Team	CERT Community Emergency Response Team training teaches neighbors to help neighbors in the event of disaster or extreme emergency. In this six-week training course, the students will learn about helping others in a major disaster, suppressing small fires, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, applying CERT principles to a suspected terrorist incident, triage, and many other response techniques. A valuable course for "doing the greatest good for the greatest number while protecting yourself from becoming a victim". Visit the Contra Costa CERT web site, and contact your local community CERT coordinator to enroll. Find the CERT contacts for programs in your area! See central county cities' CERT classes by subject.
Senior Citizen Fire Safety Seniors are at significantly higher risk of dying in a home fire than the rest of the U.S. population. What can seniors do to reduce this risk and protect their home? This program is utilized in Assisted Living Homes, Senior Apartment Complexes, City Senior Centers, and Senior Homeowners Associations. Basic Home Fire Safety Home fires strike suddenly without warning, leaving residents with a matter of minutes to escape. What can you do to protect your family? This program fits well into homeowners association groups, civic groups, and any gathering that wants to learn how to make their home safer from fire disaster.		Seniors Program
Smoke Detector Installation	Smoke Detector Give-A-Way Program Smoke detectors save lives! The Public Education Unit provides free smoke detectors, plus free installation for senior citizens over 60 years old or disabled citizens of any age. If you are a senior, own your own home, have no detector, or have one over 10 years old, contact Public Education to arrange an appointment. For those who are not seniors or disabled, we also come to your home and advise the best location for your detectors.

Antioch Dunes Fire Prevention

The 55-acre Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge is at very high risk to human caused wildfires and is in great need of enhanced fire prevention, education and outreach efforts in the Antioch area.

US Fish & Wildlife service provides National Fire Plan Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Program funding to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District to support cooperative fire prevention education and outreach throughout Contra Costa County, with priorities based on communities adjacent to US Fish & Wildlife Service lands (FWS).

In this mutually beneficial program, the Fire District builds upon existing fire prevention programs in the area by accentuating refuge values, fire risks and fire prevention. For more information about this very special habitat that is home to three endangered species, visit the Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge web pages at http://www.fws.gov/SFBAYREFUGES/antioch/

Workplace Safety

Fire Safety On The Job
Whether you work in an office, factory, or anything in between, fires happen in the workplace. Learn what you can do to increase the chances of you and your co-workers escaping unharmed. What kind of hazards are to be found in your workplace? We will come to your place of business and prepare your employees.

Parents of Pre-Schoolers Fire Safety
As parents of toddlers, you face special considerations regarding preventing fires and burns in your home. What hazards can you look for that pose special dangers for your baby or toddler? Why are pre-schoolers at high risk for clothing ignition and what can you as a parent do? This program fits well into mom's clubs, church groups, pre-schools and day cares that have parent meetings.

Fire Extinguisher Hands-On Demonstration

Using A Fire Extinguisher
Your workplace has fire extinguishers available for sudden fire emergencies, but do your employees know how to use them? Do they know when an extinguisher is appropriate and when it isn't? The proper use of an extinguisher could save lives and property. Your facility can schedule either a hands-on program (with live pan fire), or classroom training only. There is a fee for this training.

Sassy & The Match Puppet Show

Fire Safety Puppet Shows
Have your pre-school students met Corky & Minnie Mae? Kindergartners love Sassy and the Match! They have important fire safety messages for your students! The kids in your care will learn what to do when they find a lighter or matches, not to hide from fire, what constitutes an "emergency", Stop, Drop, & Roll, and why the firefighter looks different in full gear. This is a fun, exciting way for the young child to learn behaviors that could save their lives. Pre-Schools, day cares, elementary schools, and other groups can call and request this program.

Mobile Home Fire Safety
Mobile homeowners associations and clubs can help their residents become aware of the fire hazards unique to their situations. Mobile home living is popular in our Fire District, and a preferred, relaxing lifestyle for many. In a sudden fire emergency however, the escape time may be even shorter. What can mobile home dwellers do to increase their chances of getting out alive? We will come to your next meeting with an interesting video and fire safety tips.

Juvenile Firesetter Interview

Juvenile Firesetter Program
Is your child experimenting with fire without your permission? Has she/he started a fire? Have you found lighting materials in their room or pocket? Is it continuing despite your intervention? Our trained specialists can help. We will interview your child, educate he/she concerning the dangers of fireplay, and your child will view an educational video. This program is, of course, highly confidential and has proven to curb firesetting behavior. If your child has had even one incident, it is time to call the Public Education Unit.

Middle School Arson Awareness Program
Fireplay and arson activity is a too frequent occurrence among middle school age children. This age group is unfortunately responsible for many school bathroom fires, grass fires and exterior fires. In a school assembly, middle school children will learn what the word "Arson" means and the penalties of deliberately setting a fire. A video is shown and arson activity is discussed in the assembly. Your middle school is urged to consider offering this assembly.

Arson Awareness Assembly

Home Inspection For Fire Hazards
Is that extension cord a fire hazard? How many smoke detectors are enough? What should I do in a cooking fire? We will come to your home and advise you of any fire hazards in your living room, kitchen and any other room you want inspected. We will also advise the best escape route for your floor plan and help you learn how to use your home fire extinguisher.

Fire Safety Materials Table	Safety Fairs Provided there are other public agencies represented, our specialists can come to your Safety Fair and present a fire safety materials table. We may also bring the Wheel of Fire, Sparky the Fire Dog, or Pluggie upon request. Please allow at least 2-3 weeks advance notice on booking a Safety Fair.
Tabletop and standup "Wheels of Fire"	Wheels of Fire Two Wheels of Fire (a tabletop and standup model) are a colorful and eye catching way to learn fire safety! The wheels were made possible by a generous grant from Fireman's Fund Insurance Company. They are used for Elementary School Assemblies, After School Programs and Safety Fairs. A fun way for adults and kids to win prizes and learn fire and life safety.

Home Emergency Kit

Emergency Preparedness Program
If the big quake hit tomorrow, do you have adequate supplies to sustain your family for at least 72 hours? In this 45-minute program, your group will learn how to stock a home emergency kit, and how to react in a significant earthquake. What can you do ahead of time to ensure the quickest re-connection with your family? This program will help you to be prepared for a major disaster.

Be Cool About Fire Safety
A 35-40 minute program aimed at Brownies, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cubs, and Elementary After School programs. This is a fun program that teaches fire safety behaviors to smaller groups of kids. The "House-A-Fire" teaching tool is used to teach the fire triangle, and the "Be Cool" video is shown. A brief quiz follows and prizes are given for correct answers.

"Pluggie" - The Fire Safety Robot

Pluggie
Pluggie the Fire Safety Robot is available to teach fire safety to citizens of all ages. He is mainly used for Elementary School Assemblies and Safety Fairs. Pluggie was made possible by a generous donation from ChevronTexaco and Wal Mart. He walks, talks, squirts water, tips his hat, spins and emits a piercing siren! He also asks fire safety questions that folks can answer and win prizes!