Fire Prevention /EMS Award Activity Book Evaluation Criteria Review Tips on how to better prepare and document activities for award consideration Presented by Tina Wells L-3 Communications 15 January 2011

Official Evaluation Criteria CheckList

Tips to prepare the Fire Prevention /EMS Activity Book Set up an Activity Book Committee (ABC) at beginning of the year Review the Fire Prevention /EMS Activities planned for that year Review the Fire Prevention Award /EMS guidelines Assign an “Official Activities Photographer” (OAP) and/or Publicist to be responsible: To take/collect photos and gather information from others on fire prevention activities - (use date stamp on camera if possible) Document activities throughout the year – (use dated activity reports) Submit photos/news articles about activities to the newspaper Post photos and info about the activities on the Dept’s website (if you don’t have a website, develop one) Collect news-clippings of submitted articles (include dates). Encourage Others to also take pictures and gather info about Fire Prevention /EMS Activities held throughout the year Have disposable cameras and/or extra digital camera accessible OAP collects extra photos /disposable camera (with info/dates) from others soon after activity is held

Tips to prepare the Fire Prevention /EMS Activities Book Assign someone to be in charge of compiling the Fire Prevention /EMS Activity Book and be responsible to: Collect the photos and documentation from the photographer Organize/format/produce the book following evaluation guidelines Help prepare the cover letter for signature Pay special attention to Layout Quality Format included in the guidelines Book size, 8 1/2X11 paper, neatness, organization, Table of Contents, Tabs, and Dept. Letterhead. Note: NEW – Multiple books are now allowed for FP & EMS “Class” projects. Include a Summary in the cover letter about year long activities performed throughout that will be supported in the book – include total manhours and # of activites Also do this for Individual Gott Award Letter – ensure Letter is signed by Fire Chief/President! Include Table of Contents - it not only organizes the book, it is a requirement that also helps with the evaluation process Use of Tabs help organize photos/activities Activities separated by month performed, show activities done throughout the year at a glance. Attempt to spread out Fire Prevention Activities throughout the year – not just during fire prevention week.

Tips to prepare the Fire Prevention /EMS Activities Book Documentation! Document photos and news-clippings (show dates) Fire Prevention /EMS activity reports placed before photos help to substantiate activities were actually performed within the year specified, and helps to “tell the story” of what/how the activity supported fire prevention. Captions under pictures can help identify what has happened during the photo shoot, but still does not truly document (prove) the activity was done that year. Citing Sources – most need to become better at doing this. Quality/Variety of Projects – most important! Don’t just use a bunch of photos about the same activity as fillers (a ½ book of photos of a fire truck spraying children at a birthday party is not going to earn the highest marks) Try to plan for/include at least one innovative/creative activity during the year (especially for individual Gott/Stewart Award consideration) - include a brief summary/captions providing detail for the pictures. Explaining what special training module was developed, why it was unique, and/or what fire prevention/EMS message was delivered is better than just having photos of a volunteer standing in front of a group of school children.

Fire Prevention Evaluation Sheet Example

EMS Evaluation Sheet Example