Grant Offers Fire Safety Training for Blind

Grant offers fire safety training for blind

BY HILARY KINDSCHUH / Lincoln Journal Star
Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008 - 12:52:54 am CDT

People with visual impairments learned Monday how to better protect themselves from fire in a training session provided by the Lincoln Bureau of Fire Prevention and the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Participants learned about fire extinguishers, fire-alarm pull stations, smoke detectors and kitchen fire safety.

The training grew out of a 2007 pilot program, said Chief Fire Inspector Bill Moody.

"The best way to protect yourself from a fire," he said, "is to prevent that fire from ever occurring. Now, there's two components to that: training and education.

"And that's what we're here to do today."

This spring, the Federal Emergency Management Association awarded a $44,000 grant to the city's Bureau of Fire Prevention for a fire safety and prevention education project to teach specific groups, including new Americans, older residents, college students and those visually impaired.

"It's important that this kind of safety program reach the entire community," said Mayor Chris Beutler. "Fighting fires is very difficult and dangerous work.

"The best way to prevent the injuries, deaths and property losses due to fire is to educate the public," Beutler said.

Nancy Flearl, Omaha district supervisor for the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, said training is important in teaching individuals how to handle emergency situations with confidence.

"We believe, and it's always been our philosophy, that (blind and visually impaired) individuals, if they're provided the right and proper training opportunity, that they can compete on an equal basis with their sighted peers," Flearl said.

Blind or not, everyone is at risk from fires, said participant Luke Olson.

"Unfortunately, fires do happen, and being able to have the necessary tools and tactics to prevent them is what's important," Olson said.

Reach Hilary Kindschuh at 473-7120 or hkindschuh@journalstar.com .

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