The Bartlett Fire Department recently received its kit for the Buzzly Fire Safety Program. Present were Fire Marshal David Bradshaw, Brodis Allen, Rob Gerlowski, Andrew Mills, Donald Colbert, Rebecca Priddy, Joni McMahan, Chief Terry Wiggins and Deputy Fire Marshal Howard McNatt.

The Bartlett Fire Department recently received its kit for the Buzzly Fire Safety Program. Present were Fire Marshal David Bradshaw, Brodis Allen, Rob Gerlowski, Andrew Mills, Donald Colbert, Rebecca Priddy, Joni McMahan, Chief Terry Wiggins and Deputy Fire Marshal Howard McNatt.

Shelby County Fire Department members are proud to be a part of the introduction of the Buzzly Fire Safety program into the Shelby County School system. Pictured are Corey Howard (front row, left), Administrative Battalion Chief Glen Kneeland, Chief Clarence Cash, Nicholas Priddy, Mallory Priddy, Lt. Rodney Smith, Jeremy Havlik and Brian Jones; Joni McMahan (back row, left), Rebecca Priddy, Nancy Loggins, Fire Inspector Rudy Doyle and Terry Watts.

At the event are Bill Scott, Drew Hale, Asst. Chief Jim McMillen, Rebecca Priddy, Joni McMahan, Chief Dennis Rutledge, Lt. Len Beardsley and Ryan White.

The Shelby County Council PTA and the Shelby County Metro Fire Marshals Association collaborated this year to get a consistent fire safety program into the elementary schools in the Shelby County Schools system.

With the help of a grant from the Assisi Foundation, 26 of the 30 elementary schools' PTAs or schools have implemented the programs.

The programs consist of one kit per classroom for pre-K through third grade that includes a 17-minute DVD on fire safety and teaching material and each school receives one Buzzly puppet with music CD, as well as a Spanish version.

"With the introduction of the Buzzly Fire Safety Program into the Shelby County Schools system we hope to see a reduction in the number children killed or injured by fire. If just one child is spared that fate, it will be worth every cent and every ounce of effort spent to make this program happen," said David Bradshaw, Bartlett fire marshal and president of the Shelby Country Metro Fire Marshals Association.

In addition to implementing the program into the elementary schools, kits of the Buzzly Fire Safety Program were recently donated to the Bartlett, Arlington and Shelby County fire departments for each fire station to use to educate area children consistently in fire safety.

The kits were made available through a grant from CIGNA Health Care. This gift is important to the fire departments as they are supporting the Tennessee State Fire Marshal's initiative to protect the high-risk children through education.

"It is the intent of CIGNA to help the people we serve improve their health, well-being and security. CIGNA cares about young children and by providing the Buzzly Fire Safety programs to teach the young children, we are teaching them basic safety skills that will last a lifetime," said Brent Wick, senior CIGNA manager.

Elementary schools in the Bartlett and Arlington area that currently have the Buzzly program are Arlington, Bartlett, Bon Lin, Ellendale, Lakeland, Oak and Rivercrest.

For more information on Buzzly Fire Safety, visit buzzlyfiresafety.com. To find out more information about the Buzzly programs in Shelby County, contact Rebecca Priddy at ropriddy@comcast.net.

Rebecca Priddy is past president of the Shelby County Council PTA

Maybe you were early for Church last Sunday, because you forgot that daylight savings time was over for 2009.  Perhaps you awoke to confusion because the time on your alarm clock was an hour later than the clock on your cell phone.  Is the clock on you car radio, microwave, or stove still an hour late because you forgot to re-set it last Sunday?

Buzzly and his TreeHouse Buddies want to remind you that the beginning and the end of Daylight Savings time is also time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors.  A 9 volt battery could be the difference in your family surviving a house fire in your home.  The $5.00 for a battery twice a year is a small price to pay for safety.

 DID YOU REMEMBER TO CHANGE YOUR BATTERIES?  It only takes a few minutes to save a life. 

As the weather starts to turn colder, the risk of fires increases significantly.

Buzzly and His TreeHouse Buddies want to urge families to focus on burn prevention and awareness, as well as take active measures to help prevent fires in their homes. Approximately 80 percent of all fire-related deaths and injuries occur in the home, and young children are at a particularly high risk because they don’t perceive danger as readily and can lack the ability to escape a life-threatening burn situation.

Important fire and burn safety tips for parents: 

Set your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Consider installing water faucets and shower heads containing anti-scald technology.

Keep matches, gasoline, lighters and all other flammable materials locked away and out of children’s reach and teach them never to touch these items.

Never leave a burning candle unattended. Place candles in a safe location away from combustible materials and where children or pets cannot tip them over.

Keep children away from cooking and heating appliances, and never leave the kitchen while you are cooking. Use back burners and turn pot handles to the back of the stove when cooking.

Place space heaters at least 3 feet from curtains, papers, furniture and other flammable materials. Always turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, outside every sleeping area, and in each bedroom. Test them every month and change the batteries once a year, even if they are hard-wired. Smoke alarms are also available with 10-year lithium batteries.

Consider a home sprinkler system. The combination of smoke alarms and sprinklers can reduce your chances of dying in a fire by 82 percent.

For more Fire Safety information, visit www.BuzzlyFireSafety.com

Halloween can be a fun day for parents and children.  Please read and heed the following article from the Gwinnett Daily Post to keep everyone safe.

Gwinnett Daily Post

Safety important for fun Halloween

By Heath Hamacher
Staff Writer

LAWRENCEVILLE - There's nothing wrong with a spooky Halloween, as long as it's a safe one, officials say.

Gwinnett fire spokesman Capt. Thomas Rutledge said a little planning will go a long way in ensuring a safe and enjoyable time for everyone.

"It is easy for children and adults to get caught up in the excitement of costumes, candy and trick-or-treating," Rutledge said. "All it takes is a little creativity to be festive and safe at the same time."

The season unfortunately brings an increased risk of fire, Rutledge said, as candles and costumes don't mix well. In the event a costume does catch fire, Rutledge said remember: stop, drop and roll.

"Rolling several times will smother the fire and prevent serious injury or even death," Rutledge said. "The best practice is to avoid open flames such as decorative candles or jack-o'-lanterns."

Rutledge and the Gwinnett County Police Department offer the following tips:

• Wear bright-colored costumes that fit properly. Reflective tape is recommended and costumes should be made of flame-resistant materials.

• If props are used, make sure they are soft and flexible with no sharp points or jagged edges.

• Children should trick-or-treat in their own subdivisions, on well-lighted streets. They should be in small groups and with a responsible adult and should never enter a house to accept candy.

• Check all candy wrappers for signs of tampering before eating and report any harmful items to police.

• Motorists should drive slowly and remain cautious for trick-or-treaters crossing the roadways or standing in medians.

• If consuming alcohol during festivities, be responsible and have a designated driver. Never provide alcohol to a minor.

• Avoid using decorative candles, if possible, especially around small children and pets.

• Eliminate tripping hazards on your walkway and porch, and make sure the area is well lit for trick-or-treaters.

• Teach children to yell loudly and cause a scene if anyone tries to grab them and to make every effort - kicking, screaming and resisting - to get away.

"Halloween is a festive time that involves costumes, candy and spooky settings," Rutledge said. "Remember not to get so caught up in the activities that you forget to be safe and act responsibly, no matter what your age."

One of Buzzly's best friends is Johnny Quinn.  Johnny's story has been told on previous Buzzly Blog postings.  He and his family continue to be active volunteers and advisers for Buzzly Fire Safety.

Johnny, pictured here with "Baby Buzz" and Buzzly Fire Safety's Executive Director Janylle Koren, is an incredible inspiration for us all. 

Below is a picture of Johnny at his 4th birthday party.  Before his next birthday, he was severely burned in a fire.  Although it was devastating, Johnny has taken everything in stride.  Now, five years later, Johnny is riding a bike (although we are trying to convince him to wear a helmet!), attends school and sings with the voice of an American Idol!