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It’s
all About Education
 Dusty
the Dragon, a master “smoke smeller,” and Precious, a live cockatoo,
know a thing or two about surviving a fire. With the help of Kent
Landsberg, fire and life safety educator from Mobile County, Alabama,
Dusty and Precious spread the message of fire safety and survival to
elementary students and adults alike.
Presenter of “Innovative Methods for Public Education” in Tuesday’s 1:30
session of the Alabama Fire Chiefs’ Conference, Kent Landsberg
introduced attendees to Dusty and Precious. Working from the premise
that education programs about fire safety should include information
about survival skills, Kent explained how Dusty, along with the
children’s book No Dragons for Tea by Jean E. Pendziwol and
Martine Gourbault, contribute to an education experience that holds
children’s attention and motivates the children to take what they learn
home to their families. Along with “stop, drop, and roll,” children
learn to “get down low and crawl” to safety outside, and to go to the
prearranged family meeting place. Dusty’s message of survival is “Get
out and stay out.”
Dusty and Precious were the undeniable highlights of Kent’s
presentation; however, Kent also provided an overview of current,
innovative smoke detector products, a stovetop fire suppression product,
and a user-friendly fire extinguisher. Kent presented a video regarding
the danger of torch toys—cigarette lighters in the form of small
vehicles, guitars, and other toy-like objects—that some adults mistake
for actual toys and purchase for their children or grandchildren. These
items are particularly dangerous because they have no safety, or
child-proof, mechanism. Kent encouraged attendees to sign a petition he
brought to the conference in support of legislation to ban these
dangerous items in Alabama.
Both
entertaining and educational, Kent Landsberg’s presentation gave
attendees valuable information about fire safety products and about
methods for developing or improving their own public education programs.
Article by: Susie Smith
Photos: AFC Staff
2/12/007
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