Thanks to sponsorship from numerous Cochrane businesses, youth ages 7 to 12 will learn valuable information regarding fire safety thanks to a book put out by Community Safety Net.

The coiled handbook teaches kids everything from evacuation plans, indoor and outdoor safety tips, fire risks, and even basic first aid in case of an emergency.

Inspector Jeff Avery with Cochrane Fire Services was surprised to see such a long list of businesses this year step up to support the initiative.

For the past five years, Cochrane Fire Services has partnered up with Community Safe Net which has enabled them to provide 5000 handbooks to youth within the Cochrane area. The topics covered in the handbook are easy to read, concise, and informative, says the Inspector. "I am always big on the home escape plan because it involves the whole family and it doesn't just involve the child. So when these books are given out to the kids, I always encourage them to go home and practice a home escape plan. It also goes over things in the house that can burn you, what to do if you do get burned, what numbers to call in an emergency, how to prevent fires indoors and outdoors, and there is even good information for parents on smoke alarms."

Community Safety Net has been around since 1989, shares Avery, and they work hand in hand with community sponsors to provide educational materials for children and their families. "They send a rep to Cochrane, and that rep communicates with all the businesses around town and shows the books and asks for sponsorship, but any money that is raised in Cochrane stays in Cochrane. So every penny goes to the number of books that we can get printed for Cochrane only."

Besides fire safety, they also print resource books on drug safety and personal safety including bullying awareness, which Avery shares they may look at ordering in the future if funding allows. "Right now we are just concentrating on fire safety, but maybe next year we could do fire safety and drug safety or fire safety and how to prevent bullying, so there are different topics we can go through as well. With all the awareness around drugs and stuff now that may not be a bad one to start going through as well."

The Fire Safety books are to be distributed to students as part of Cochrane Fire Services public education program, but if you would like one sooner, Avery says to drop by the fire hall anytime before 5 pm on a weekday, and they will provide you a copy.

Thanking the businesses for their support, Avery says the department is very appreciative. "I was surprised when Community Safety Net came back and said there were 92 businesses that donated, that is outstanding. I never would have thought that many businesses would have jumped on board. We have a plaque that we have made up, and so the fire crews will be going to each business that donated and showing our appreciation for their support."

Inspector Avery's role not only includes communicating to media but also educating the public on how to be fire safe at home, at school, and in the community at large.