President of Preferred Health Care Services to Receive Fire Safety Award

TORONTO, June 16, 2014 /CNW/ - Tracy Jones, President of Preferred Health Care Services will receive a Fire Safety Award from the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council at a ceremony on June 19, 2014 in Toronto. The annual Fire Safety Awards recognize outstanding contributions to fire protection and prevention in Ontario.

In the Town of Richmond Hill, an effective partnership has evolved between Preferred Health Care Services and the fire department. Preferred Health Care Services is an Ontario home health and social care service provider. Fire departments rely on community partners to reach their most vulnerable residents, such as seniors living independently in their own homes.

In 2011, Richmond Hill Fire & Emergency Services applied for a scholarship from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to attend intensive training on the Remembering When fires and falls safety program. As the only Ontario community awarded a scholarship, representatives from the fire department and Preferred Health Care Services travelled to Boston to attend an NFPA Conference.

Since then, staff from Preferred Health Care Services has incorporated training they received in fires and falls prevention into their home visits using a specially-designed checklist. Last year, the partners worked with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to produce three DVDs to assist with training and educating both staff and residents about falls and fire prevention.

"As a result of the partnership between Preferred Health Care Services and the fire department, vulnerable residents of Richmond Hill are benefitting from safer home environments," said Ted Wieclawek, Chair, Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council.

The Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council gratefully acknowledges the support of its sponsors in this event: TD Bank Group, Toronto Blue Jays, Union Gas Limited/ A Spectra Energy Company, Technical Standards & Safety Authority - TSSA, Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. Proctor & Gamble Inc., Electrical Safety Authority, CSA Group, The Co-operators Group, Kidde Canada Inc., Roxul Inc. and The Home Depot.

SOURCE: Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council

Carol Gravelle, Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management, [phone] [email protected]