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.