OSU Fire Protection Publications Receives President’s Award from the Home Safety Council
Oklahoma State University's Fire Protection Publications (FPP) was named a co-recipient of the Home Safety Council's President's Award at the annual Salute of Home Safety Awards Dinner held in Washington, DC on June 8, 2006. The President's Award recognizes one or more organizations that have partnered with the Home Safety Council on initiatives that bring home safety messages and education to especially vulnerable and underserved populations, thereby extending the scope and reach of the Home Safety Council's life-saving mission. FPP was recognized along with ProLiteracy Worldwide and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for partnering with the Home Safety Council on the highly successful Home Safety Literacy Project.
It is estimated that more than 93 million people in the United States read English at or below the 6th grade level. Funded by FEMA, the Home Safety Council, ProLiteracy Worldwide, and FPP have developed extensive packages on improving home safety as it relates to fires and other disasters for implementation in adult literacy programs throughout the United States. The learners increase their ability to read by using materials that also teach them how to make their homes safer and to prepare for disasters, such as hurricanes and tornados. Local fire departments are encouraged to work with the literacy programs and learners by providing home safety inspections and working smoke alarms, where needed.
The award was presented by Home Safety Council President Meri-K Appy. Ron Hazelton, the Home Improvement Editor for ABC's Good Morning America, served as Master of Ceremonies for the event. FEMA Director R. David Paulison, Undersecretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, DHS and Robert Wedgeworth, President, ProLiteracy Worldwide served as the keynote speakers for the evening.
FPP is an auxiliary enterprise of the College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology at OSU and serves as the headquarters for the International Fire Service Training Association. Since their inception in 1934, IFSTA has worked with FPP to produce and distribute high quality fire service training materials. Its operations are funded primarily by the sales of the training materials they produce and distribute, as well as by grants from various sources. Located on the OSU campus, FPP employs approximately 70 full- and part-time employees. IFSTA and FPP produce a full line of fire, emergency medical, and hazardous materials training manuals, study guides, curricula, video products, and associated training materials.
A range of IFSTA publications is stocked by IFE. Details can be found on this website (go to "Shop"), or contact Jenny Angus on jenny.angus@ife.org.uk for further information.
