|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Home Prevention Education History Training Meetings Links Contact Us Photo Gallery Awards Member E-Mail |
 |
|
|
William
Sedlacek, Fire Chief |
 |
On Tuesday, October 24, 2006, the U-M Trauma Burn Center's Injury Prevention Team will present the Grand Traverse Fire Department with the Leland Gayheart Fire Safety & Prevention Award, in recognition for their efforts in fire prevention and education. Each year, the Trauma Burn Center supports the work of Michigan fire fighters by presenting the prestigious Leland Gayheart Fire Safety and Prevention Award. The award recognizes outstanding creativity and innovation in fire prevention and education programs and is named in honor of a young fire fighter who lost his life after a devastating burn injury. This year the Grand Traverse Fire Department and the Marquette Fire Department are both recipients of the award.
The Grand Traverse Fire Department's Juvenile Fire Setter Program was created in 1985 and combines family intervention sessions with information on burn injuries and the consequences of fire setting. Children of all ages are referred from local schools, courts, agencies and by parents. Since its inception, over 500 families have participated in the program. The Grand Traverse Fire Department's Juvenile Fire Setter Program was chosen as the 2006 recipient of the Leland Gayheart Award because of its proven impact on the community and the departments commitment to updating and evaluating the program to meet the changing needs of children and families. The family of Leland Gayheart established this endowment to provide an honorarium of $500 to be awarded each year to a Michigan fire department that is leading the way in community fire safety and education. The Trauma Burn Center's Injury Prevention Office accepts nominations for the award and presents the honor each fall to a recipient whose outreach efforts in fire prevention demonstrates commitment and innovation, as well as advances the community's level of fire safety awareness.
Leland Gayheart was a 23 year old firefighter that lost his life due to a devastating burn injury in 1991. As a tribute, the Leland Gayheart Prevention Award was created to encourage prevention programs within local fire departments. An honorarium is awarded annually to fire department whose innovative efforts have demonstrated a statewide, countywide, or citywide impact on prevention and fire safety. This award is presented in joint effort by the Gayheart family and the University of Michigan Trauma Burn Center. In loving memory of Leland, a unique video was developed. The production is a chronicle of his life, culminating in a 144 day burn course and honors his courageous struggle. The award is presented annually to the Leland Gayheart Prevention Award recipient. This prestigious award includes a $500 honorarium, a plague and the Leland Gayheart video. Click here to view the Leland Gayheart video...
|
 |
