Seeking Fire & Life Safety Educators in Iowa to team up with NFPA & the University of Iowa on an important project.
Free Training: Tuesday, March 17, 2015, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, at Waukee Fire Department, 1300 SE L.A. Grant Parkway, Waukee, Iowa 50263
Would you like to:
- Implement a nationally recognized fire & fall prevention program for older adults in your community?
- Help researchers from the University of Iowa evaluate the NFPA Remembering When™ program?
- Earn a $300 stipend and free registration to the 2015 NFPA Conference in Chicago this June?
About the project
Remembering When is a fire and fall prevention program with the goal of helping older adults live safely at home for as long as possible. Members of the local fire department and home visiting specialists deliver the program through group presentations and home visits. The research project will help determine the effectiveness of the recently revised program and help guide future improvements. Review the program.
NFPA is seeking two-person Outreach Teams to assist University of Iowa researchers. Outreach teams will include a member of the local fire department along with a home visiting volunteer or two representatives from the fire department. The teams will implement Remembering When to older adults in the community.
Tasks and Responsibilities of Outreach Teams
1. Participate in one-day training workshop. NFPA will partner with the University of Iowa research team to host a training. Outreach teams will learn to facilitate the Remembering When program and more about the research project.
2. Help the research team identify local organizations who serve older adults. This list will help the researchers locate participants for the study. For example, senior centers, meal sites, or social groups may be good places to find older adults who want to learn how to prevent fires and falls.
3. Lead Remembering When group presentations. Each team will deliver the presentation to 40-50 older adults.
4. Complete Remembering When home visits. Each team will deliver the home-based program to 40 older adults selected by the researchers.
5. Fill in a log after each presentation. The Outreach Team will record information about program logistics and details. This form will take about 5 minutes to complete.
To support the project, each team member will receive:
- training as a facilitator of the Remembering When program along with all program materials
- lunch and snacks on the day of the training
- $100 to purchase props for presentations and home visits (1 per team)
- support from the University of Iowa research team during the study
- ongoing assistance from NFPA regarding Remembering When
Seeking a partner agency? Consider the following:
- Groups with religious affiliation
- Council on Aging
- Meals on Wheels
- Local Red Cross Chapter
- Service clubs such as the Elks, Rotary, Lions, or Kiwanis
- Neighborhood Watch Groups
- OR bring another representative from your fire department with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it be hard to set up the group presentations and home visits?
Not at all. The researchers from the University of Iowa will hold recruiting sessions to sign up older adults to participate in the Remembering When program. The older adults will be offered a small incentive for their participation to sweeten the deal. You will work with the research team to select times and locations that work best for you.
Why should my community implement the Remembering When program?
The number of residents who are 65 and older is growing by leaps and bounds every day. These folks are also at the highest risk for injuries from home fires and falls. The Remembering When program will help to keep older adults safe and reduce the burden on EMS resources.
What is the timeline for the group presentations and home visits?
The presentations and home visits will take place in the Spring of 2015.
Will I need to complete a lot of paperwork related to the research project?
No. The research team will be handling most of the data collection and paperwork. Outreach teams will be responsible for completing a short log after each session to record logistical information about the presentation.
Can I attend the training if I do not want to participate in the research study?
Maybe. Developing our Outreach Teams for the study is our priority but if we have room, we’d love to have you. Reach out to Karen if you would like to be considered.
Are there other fire departments who use Remembering When?
Yes – many! If you would like to connect with someone from another department who is using the program, talk to Karen. She would be happy to share some contact information with you.
Can we bring more than two people to the training?
Probably. Some communities find it helpful to have three- or four-person teams. Touch base with Karen if you are interested in bringing more than two people to the workshop.