01/03/2025
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS) has named the Ashburn Volunteer Fire Rescue Department - AVFRD as the recipient of the William F. Jenaway Illness & Injury Prevention Award.
This annual award is sponsored by VFIS and recognizes one fire department for their exceptional implementation of an injury, illness, or vehicle safety prevention program within their community. This year’s winners developed and carried out a seatbelt safety program that has helped to educate school-aged children in the Ashburn, Virginia area on the importance of wearing their seatbelts.
To support this vital safety message, the AVFRD purchased a Seat Belt Convincer device and used it in their demonstrations. The purchase was completely funded by donations from a local retirement community, Lansdowne Woods.
The public’s response to the AVFRD program has been overwhelmingly positive. By allowing members of the community to talk directly with uniformed firefighters and simultaneously giving them the chance to experience a simulated 5mph crash firsthand, the AVFRD has made a significant impact on the way children and parents view seatbelt safety.
“The best way to prevent injury and illness is to prevent emergency incidents from ever occurring,” said Chief Rich Cowger, VCOS Chair. “Chief Walsh and the Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department go right to the source of injuries and illness by providing a Seatbelt Convincer harm prevention program. The Seatbelt Convincer class proved to school system students that seatbelts not only save lives but also prevent potential on-scene injuries and traumatic stress.”
Parents have used their and their kids’ experience with the Seat Belt Convincer to engage in meaningful conversations about the importance of wearing a seatbelt when inside a moving vehicle. By experiencing how jarring even a slow-speed crash can be for vehicle occupants, participants gain a deeper understanding of this importance and are more likely to take seatbelt use seriously in the future.
The AVFRD plans to continue the Seat Belt Convincer program for years to come and hopes to reach all of the over 81,000 students in the Loudon County school system.
Along with their partners at VFIS, the IAFC Volunteer and Combination Officers Section considers the AVFRD a perfect example of effective outreach in action. The William F. Jenaway Illness & Injury Prevention Award will be presented to the Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department in-person at the 2024 Symposium in the Sun in Clearwater, Florida. VFIS will cover all the winning department’s travel, lodging, and registration costs as part of the award.
About VCOS:
Volunteer & Combination Officers Section (VCOSThe IAFC's Volunteer & Combination Officers Section (VCOS) represents the efforts of fire chiefs across the U.S. and Canada addressing the needs of volunteer and combination emergency response agencies. Their efforts are focused on specific areas of organizational management that present challenges to creating and sustaining viable emergency response programs.
About VFIS:
VFISVFIS is proud to have pioneered specialized insurance protections for America's emergency service organizations over fifty years ago. And we're just as proud of our continued dedication to respond to the unique needs of fire departments, EMS agencies, communication centers and other emergency service organizations through our holistic protections, responder training and safety-forward solutions.
Source: https://www.iafc.org/.../vcos-announces-winner-of-the...
