Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia and Philadelphia Fire
DepartmentAwarded by National Fire Protection Association
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Philadelphia Fire Department and the
Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia (VNA) have been awarded
scholarships to participate in a training conference dedicated to Remembering
When(TM): A Fire and Fall Prevention Program for Older Adults, developed by
the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA. The awarded scholarships
provide for travel expenses for two participants, Remembering When curriculum
materials and all training.
VNA is a leading not-for-profit provider of comprehensive 24-hour in-home and
community health care to residents of Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware and
Montgomery counties.
The conference will be held November 15 -- 17, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts.
NFPA has selected two-member teams from 32 communities across North America to
participate. Teams are comprised of one fire department member partnered with
an individual from an agency within the community that serves older adults
through home visits, such as visiting nurses associations, home health care
agencies, and places of worship.
"Adults 65 years and older are more than twice as likely to be killed in a
home fire compared to the population at large, and falls are the leading cause
of death from injuries in this group," said Sharon Gamache, NFPA's Director of
High-Risk Outreach Programs, "This training offers strategies that
participants can bring back to share with their communities to help prevent
fires and falls among older adults that live there."
"We are honored to receive this award from NFPA," said Mimi Schaible, RN, MSN,
MBA, Senior Vice President for Business Development. "We care for nearly
1,600 patients in the Philadelphia region each day. Their health and safety
is of utmost importance to us."
"This partnership with VNA is both welcomed and much needed. The Remembering
When program will enhance our senior citizens' level of awareness to fire
safety education as well as fall and slip prevention," said Fire Commissioner
Lloyd Ayers.
Derrick Sawyer, Battalion Chief of Fire Prevention Division of the
Philadelphia Fire Department and Nora Cowell, RN of the VNA will travel to
Boston for the workshop. Following the workshop, the Philadelphia Fire
Department will conduct a minimum of five group presentations and at least two
train-the-trainer sessions for the VNA. The VNA will integrate materials from
the Remembering When program into its outreach through home visits.
NFPA's s committed to helping communities reduce fire and fall injuries and
deaths among older adults. The Remembering When program has been implemented
in communities throughout North American since 1999, reaching thousands of
older adults. For more information about Remembering When, visit
www.nfpa.org/rememberingwhen.
Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia
The Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia is a leading
not-for-profit provider of comprehensive 24-hour in-home and community
healthcare to residents of Philadelphia, Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery
counties. Since 1886, the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia
has provided highly specialized, cost effective services to Southeastern
Pennsylvania residents regardless of their ability to pay. For more
information about the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia or
the services it provides, visit www.vnaphilly.org or call 1-800-VNA-1160.
National Fire Protection Association
NFPA has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and
life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international
nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other
hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and
standards, research, training, and education. Visit NFPA's Web site at
www.nfpa.org.
SOURCE Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia
Kate McDermott, +1-856-866-0411, ext. 19, kate@annekleincg.com
