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December 2, 1997
(Education)


The following statement was issued today by Roger Grimes, Minister of Education. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

Along with my colleague Art Reid, Minister Responsible for Fire Protection, I am pleased to announce today that we have authorized the expansion of the Learn Not to Burn Program in all Kindergarten to Grade 2 classrooms throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Learn Not to Burn is an internationally recognized curriculum-based school program.

It was developed nationally in 1993 in partnership with Fire Prevention Canada, the Canadian Tire Child Protection Foundation and the National Fire Protection Association. It is administered provincially through the Office of the Fire Commissioner.

This program reaches school aged children with vital life safety information and it stresses the teaching of positive, practical fire prevention behaviour.

The Office of the Fire Commissioner, which reports to Mr. Reid, has now appointed a full-time program coordinator for the Learn Not to Burn Program.

That individual is now working toward program implementation with a steering committee comprised of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Chiefs and Firefighters, the Office of the Fire Commissioner and officials of the Department of Education.

The provincial coordinator will be responsible primarily for providing in-servicing for teachers throughout the Province. I have already indicated that I would not be adverse to a school district decision to close schools for one half day if necessary, in order for teachers to be in-serviced on such an important initiative.

Approximately 80 Kindergarten to Grade 2 classes have already been provided with curriculum packages and resource books to date and the Learn Not to Burn Program will be fully implemented in all classrooms by the Spring of 1998. At that time, the program will be in place in approximately 300 schools.

My colleague, Mr. Reid can relate to the devastating losses incurred by fire each year throughout the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Since the Learn Not to Burn Program was launched, 47 lives have been saved across Canada including four in Newfoundland and Labrador in 21 separate incidents of fire and emergencies.

These saves have been made by children who participated in the Learn Not to Burn Program. The program teaches children to remember 25 specific behaviours of what and what not to do in the event of fire.

And remember they do.

As indicated, 21 incidents have resulted in children saving the lives of 47 people, the majority of whom are adults.

These successes have been achieved as a direct result of the commitment on the part of many individuals and organizations. I do want to recognize and commend the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Chiefs and Firefighters for their considerable efforts associated with the province-wide implementation of this program. The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Chiefs and Firefighters has lobbied long and hard for a province-wide implementation of this program and I am sure that today's announcement must come as a great source of satisfaction to them.

As a government, we recognize and applaud the Learn Not to Burn Program as a primary tool to address fire safety education in our Province. It is a user-friendly program targeted specifically towards children who statistically comprise one of the highest percentages of death and injury by fire.

The fire prevention education that our school children will receive through the Learn Not to Burn Program will be with them for their entire lives. The Departments of Education and Municipal and Provincial Affairs are therefore pleased to be associated with such a significant undertaking.

______________________

STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE PROVINCIAL LEARN NOT TO BURN PROGRAM

Chairman: Fred Hollett Phone: 726-1050

Fire Commissioner Fax: 729-2524
Fire Commissioner's Office
Building 901, Pleasantville
St. John's, NF
A1B 4J6

Wilson Wiseman Phone: 466-7841

President Fax: 651-4990
Nfld. & Labrador Association of Fire Chiefs & Firefighters
P.O. Box 572, Gander, NF
A1V 2E1

Linda Coles Phone: 729-2739

Curriculum Section Fax: 729-6619
Department of Education
P.O. Box 8700
St. John's, NF
A1B 4J6

 

Derek Simmons Phone: 686-5735

Fire Commissioner's Office Fax: 686-5738
Unit 9, Venture Centre
P.O. Box 48
Pasadena, NF
A0L 1K0

 

Hubert Sparkes Phone: 533-2482

Executive Director Fax: 651-4990
Nfld. & Labrador Association of Fire Chiefs & Firefighters
P.O. Box 572
Gander, NF
A1V 2E1

1997 12 02 2:40 p.m.

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