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What is
SAFE
Life on the
streets takes on a whole new meaning when you’re a firefighter/paramedic.
The streets are where the crashes occur…where the windshields are
shattered…where the injuries are violent…where lives are forever changed.
And it’s these kinds of life-changing experiences that create the
backdrop for a dramatic, gripping program called Street Smart presented
by Stay Alive from Education (S.A.F.E.) Directed toward high-school and
college students, The Street Smart program take young adults into the
real-life drama experienced by firefighter/paramedics as they work to
save the lives of youth who have made poor choices when it comes to
drinking or using drugs and the non compliance of seat belts.
Presented in a classroom setting, a team of two state-certified
paramedics walks students through what happens at a trauma scene using
the medical equipment they employ daily in their jobs. From taking a
pulse, to loading the victim onto a backboard, to simulating an IV-line
being inserted, students can see and feel what it’s like to try to save a
life.
And what it’s like to be the victim…They learn the stories behind the
crashes, they hear the choices that individuals were given, and they see
the irresponsible actions played out. Students come to know the power
that comes from making the right choices, from choosing not to drink or
use drugs, from choosing to wear a seat belt…and they come to understand
the consequences that come with their actions and the importance and
value of their own lives.
Featuring photos and descriptions of real-life trauma incidents, Street
Smart. is a no-holds-barred presentation that gets students involved. The
paramedics lead a discussion on the importance of students making
responsible decisions concerning their safety that compels them to
participate…it’s not a lecture…it’s a real-life view of their options.
In addition, students learn to recognize emergency medical procedures
that can help reduce anxiety in a trauma situation, benefiting not only
the patient, but also rescue and emergency room personnel.
Street Smart is presented by members of Stay Alive From Education (S.A.F.E.),
a non-profit organization created by firefighter/paramedics in Florida,
dedicated to reducing teen injuries and fatalities. This program has been
reaching students across the nation with its powerful message when it
comes to decisions on teen drinking and driving or drug use.
The leading cause of death and injury amongst young adults in the United
States is from trauma caused by accidents. Driving behaviors of young
adults cause the majority of these accidents. Non-driving related
accidents that cause traumatic death and injury of young adults are also
caused by behaviors of young adults. Young adults are causing many of
their own trauma related deaths and injuries.
Stay Alive From Education (S.A.F.E.) presenters of Street Smart is a
non-profit organization dedicated to making high school students aware of
the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, not
wearing seat belts, and the trauma associated with these dangers. The
goal of the S.A.F.E. program is to offer young adults information which
will allow them to make rational decisions concerning their safety and
well-being, thus reducing injuries and fatalities, giving them the
opportunity to become responsible and healthy adults.
Our Mission Statement
To help young adults learn behaviors that mitigate their death and injury
through providing interactive educational opportunities for them that
address these behaviors; by influencing educators to integrate these
educational opportunities into the school curriculum and in school
regulations, to communicate to young adults the value society puts on
insuring that young adults practice protective behaviors.
Overall Goal of SAFE
To reduce and to eliminate trauma related death and injury of young
adults due to their high-risk behaviors and of incidence of trauma
related death and injury of young adult’s nation wide.
Program Description
This program is presented by Firefighter Paramedics who share there real
life work experiences. SAFE works to significantly decrease the
percentage of death and injury of young adults due to trauma by a)
delivering to students nation wide field-tested interactive workshop
designed for young adults, and; b) insuring that school leadership play
their in part as public servants in insuring the practice of protective
behaviors in young adults.
For over 16 years SAFE has reached out across the country demonstrating
and delivering this powerful message. |