Children and Fire Safety
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) provides a suite of tailored fire safety educational programs for children.
Through the Fire Ed programs, FRV encourages a partnership between local firefighters and primary schools in all FRV .
Target Age Group
The Fire Ed for Foundation program is designed for and is only available to children in their first year of school. This is the age at which most children become able to effectively learn and utilise fire safety information when presented within a formal program. The program is not suitable for pre-schoolers.
For information and to request an informal visit from firefighters to a kindergarten or childcare centre go to Early Childhood .
What does Fire Ed for Foundation involve?
The program takes place over four stages that are designed to be implemented over a period of approximately two or three weeks. The four stages of the program are detailed below.
Firefighters, teachers, families and caregivers all have a role in the FRV Fire Ed for Foundation program.
Foundation teachers are encouraged to include their classes in the program by:
1. Requesting the two firefighter visits for their class
2. Confirming two dates with their local firefighters
3. Completing classroom activities prior to and between the firefighter visits.
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Firefighters from each FRV station aim to contact each of their local schools each year in term one to arrange Fire Ed school visits.
From term two onwards teachers who have not heard from their local firefighters may request the two Fire Ed for Foundation firefighter visits for their class(es) by completing and submitting the form below.
Allow at least one month notice for scheduling visits.
Your local firefighters will then be in touch to confirm dates and times with you and to discuss any specific issues related to your students.
The Fire Ed for Foundation program takes place over four stages that are designed to be taught over a period of approximately two or three weeks.
The Firefighter First Visit is Stage 2 and the Firefighter Second Visit is Stage 4.
Teachers will need to prepare the students for the Firefighter Visits and reinforce their learning with classroom activities through:
Stage 1 - Preparing for the Firefighter Visits and
Stage 3 - Classroom and Family Activities.
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Teachers are asked to read the ‘Our Big Book of Helpers’ e-book with their students and provide them with the accompanying worksheets to prepare them for Stage 2 - Firefighter First Visit of the Fire Ed for Foundation program.
Our Big Book of Helpers E-book
This e-book has been specifically written for class use to prepare the students for the Firefighter First Visit.
This picture book and accompanying worksheets promote young children’s awareness that firefighters are an integral part of their community as community helpers.
Our Big Book of Helpers - PDFOur Big Book of Helpers Worksheets
WHAT DO HELPERS USE - CUT & PASTE WORKSHEET (PDF)WHAT DO FIREFIGHTERS USE-JOIN WORKSHEET (PDF)WHAT DO HELPERS USE-JOIN WORKSHEET (PDF)WHAT DO HELPERS USE-VEHICLES WORKSHEET (PDF)WHAT DO POSTIES USE-JOIN WORKSHEET (PDF)WHO HELPS US - JOIN WORKSHEET (PDF)Additional Information to assist firefighters
Students who have been impacted by a house fire or bushfire may be distressed by discussions of fire safety. In the Foundation Family Fire Safety Information parents and caregivers have been asked to discuss their child’s needs with you so that firefighters may be made aware of this and take it into account during the Firefighter Visits.
Also, please inform firefighters if any students in your class are living with disabilities and may require additional consideration during their visits.
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Foundation Family Fire Safety Information
In the week prior to the Firefighter First Visit to the school, teachers are asked to send Family Fire Safety Information home to all families:
FOUNDATION FAMILY FIRE SAFETY INFORMATION (PDF)This information should be copied for inclusion in year level / class and school newsletters, e-mails, social media or any other form of communication between the school and its community.
It contains:
- information about the Fire Ed for Foundation program
- home fire safety information
Family Survey
Fire Rescue Victoria would greatly appreciate feedback on your child’s experience of the Fire Ed for Foundation program.
Your feedback will assist FRV to improve our education programs.
When your child’s class has completed the program please take a few minutes to complete this brief online survey:
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The second stage of the FRV Fire Ed for Foundation program is a visit to the school by career firefighters from your local FRV fire station.
Stage 1 - Preparing for the Firefighter Visits must be completed by teachers prior to the Firefighter First Visit.
During this incursion firefighters will provide a 45 minute interactive presentation introducing the following messages:
Firefighters are Helpers
- Good fires and bad fires
- Crawl Low in Smoke
- Safe Meeting Place
- What is an Emergency? 000 (Triple Zero)
To request the Firefighter First Visit and Firefighter Second Visit for your Foundation class as part of the FRV Fire Ed for Foundation program,please fill out the form below.
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These Classroom and Family Activities should be completed by students after Stage 2 – Firefighter First Visit and prior to Stage 4 – Firefighter Second Visit.
Safe Meeting Place Worksheet
After the Firefighter First Visit, students should complete the Safe Meeting Place Worksheet and return it to school before the Firefighter Second Visit.
Teachers are asked to print a Safe Meeting Place Worksheet for each child to take home.
Students are asked to complete the worksheet with their families:
- Each household should decide on a safe place to meet in the event of a fire in their home.
- Students are asked to draw their home, their Safe Meeting Place and the people they live with on the worksheet.
- Students should bring the worksheet to class for the Firefighter Second Visit. Firefighters will use these to reinforce home evacuation concepts.
SAFE MEETING PLACE WORKSHEETIf not previously sent home, Foundation Family Fire Safety Information should be sent home before Firefighter Second Visit
This information could be included in your class or school newsletter, e-mails, social media or any other form of communication between the school and its community.
It contains:
- information about the Fire Ed for Foundation program
- home fire safety information
FOUNDATION FAMILY FIRE SAFETY INFORMATION (PDF)Fire Safety Worksheets
Teachers are asked to use this series of Fire Safety Worksheets in class to reinforce the concepts taught during the firefighter visits.
WHAT DO HELPERS USE - CUT & PASTE WORKSHEETGOOD FIRES BAD FIRES WORKSHEET (PDF)HOT OR NOT HOT WORKSHEET (PDF)STOP DROP COVER ROLL-JOIN WORKSHEETSTOP DROP COVER ROLL-ORDER WORKSHEETWHAT IS AN EMERGENCY? WORKSHEETWHO HELPS US-JOIN WORKSHEET -
The fourth and final stage of the program is a second visit to the school by career firefighters from your local FRV fire station.
- Stage 1 - Preparing for the Firefighter Visits
- Stage 2 - Firefighter First Visit
- Stage 3 - Classroom and Family Activities
Stages 1-3 must be completed by teachers prior to the Firefighter Second Visit.
During this second incursion firefighters will provide a 45 minute interactive presentation introducing the following messages:
- revision of Firefighter First Visit concepts
- observation and discussion of the students’ Safe Meeting Place Worksheets
- introduction to the concept: Stop Drop Cover Roll (what to do if your clothes catch fire)
- a visit to the fire truck
To request the Firefighter First Visit and Firefighter Second Visit for your Foundation class as part of the FRV Fire Ed for Foundation program, please fill out the form below.
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The Fire Ed for Foundation program assists Foundation students to demonstrate an understanding of:
- Firefighters’ roles within the community (Firefighters are Helpers)
- The difference between a safe fire and an unsafe fire (‘Good Fires, Bad Fires’)
- The purpose of and safe response to a smoke alarm
- The safest method to exit a smoky environment (‘Crawl Down Low and Go, Go, Go’)
- Evacuation from the home in case of fire (Safe Meeting Place)
- Differences between mishaps and emergencies (What is an emergency?)
- Calling for emergency assistance using a telephone (Zero, Zero, Zero)
- The appropriate action to take if clothing catches fire (‘Stop Drop Cover Roll’)
For Foundation students to express confidence in firefighters and their roles in the community by:
- Displaying confident behaviour around firefighters wearing uniform and breathing apparatus
- Communicating positive feedback of firefighters to parents and caregivers
- Communicating positive feedback of the program to parents and caregivers
Fire Ed for Foundation is aligned to the Foundation Victorian Curriculum
This curriculum mapping grid identifies the extent of curriculum coverage for each Fire Ed for Foundation program activity.
The program could be integrated into a literacy block, a Health & Physical Education or Personal & Social Capability unit or used as a standalone unit of work.
CURRICULUM MAPPING GRID -
At the completion of the Fire Ed for Foundation program teachers are asked to complete a short online teacher .
This survey will provide Fire Rescue Victoria with vital information to ensure the ongoing improvement of the Fire Ed programs.
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Fire Rescue Victoria has developed these resources for children’s education and enjoyment:
FRV Comic BookRed Hot Safety Stuff Activity BookABC PosterFire Appliances colouring sheetsThe Triple Zero Kids’ has been created to educate children in how to cope in an emergency and the appropriate use of Triple Zero, Australia’s emergency call service.
This game is designed for children of kindergarten and primary school age and consists of fifteen safety scenarios.
Reviewed 09 June 2023