DATE:            12/19/02
CONTACT/WRITER:  Sarah Dubose (864) 656-4049;sdbs@Clemson.edu 
EDITOR:          Susan Bedingfield, (864) 656-3876;sbeding@clemson.edu 

Extension specialist 
receives NFPA grant

	CLEMSON   Children in Aiken, Anderson, Charleston, Orangeburg 
and Sumter counties will be a little safer in 2003 thanks to a $15,000 
grant received by a Clemson University Extension Specialist.
 	Sarah DuBose, of the Department of Agricultural and Biological
Engineering, was recently awarded the 2003 National Fire Protection
Association Champion grant from the National Fire Protection 
Association (NFPA). 
	"The grant will furnish money for a Risk Watch Child Injury 
Program in South Carolina. NFPA developed this award program to help 
deal proactively with public safety issues impacting today's children 
and families," said DuBose. "It is a multi-million dollar initiative 
that helps local public educators and safety advocates introduce Risk 
Watch to communities."
	NFPA is an international nonprofit membership organization that
was founded in 1896 as the National Fire Protection Association. 
	The organization's 300 safety codes and standards influence 
every building, process, service, design and installation in the United 
States, as well as many of those used in other countries. 
	Risk Watch is a school-based curriculum that links teachers 
with community safety experts and parents. The curriculum is divided 
into five age-appropriate teaching modules Pre-K/Kindergarten, Grades 
1-2, Grades 3-4,Grades 5-6, and Grades 7-8. Each addresses topics 
ranging from water safety to poison prevention. 
	The grant will provide transportation and training funds for a 
state team to go to Boston where they will receive training by NFPA on 
how to administer safety workshops to teachers and Extension personnel 
in the five counties.  
	DuBose will coordinate the five-county state team pilot 
program, which will consist of firefighters, police officers, 
educators, health care workers and Clemson Extension personnel. The 
state team will include:   
          · Sondra Senn, administrator for public education, Office of 
	    the State Fire Marshal
          · Sgt. David Turno, Community Service, Aiken Department of 
	    Public Safety
          · Linda Brees, manager for Children's Advocacy, Greenville
            Children's Hospital 
          · Carolyn Donges, education association, S.C. State 	
     	    Department of Education. 
                              END