Leland Gayheart Prevention AwardLeland Gayheart was a 23 year old firefighter that lost his life due to a devastating burn injury in 1991. As a tribute, the Leland Gayheart Prevention Award was created to encourage prevention programs within local fire departments. An honorarium is awarded annually to fire department whose innovative efforts have demonstrated a statewide, countywide, or citywide impact on prevention and fire safety. This award is presented in joint effort by the Gayheart family and the University of Michigan Trauma Burn Center. In loving memory of Leland, a unique video was developed. The production is a chronicle of his life, culminating in a 144 day burn course and honors his courageous struggle. The award is presented annually to the Leland Gayheart Prevention Award recipient. This prestigious award includes a $500 honorarium, a plaque and the Leland Gayheart video. EligibilityAll Michigan Fire Departments that are actively involved in fire safety prevention. Entry RequirementsAll nominees' must complete an nomination form and adhere to the format and length limitation described below to be considered for the award. All entries must include the following:
Selection ProcessAll nominations will be reviewed by the University of Michigan Trauma Burn Center. Programs are judged on the program design, outcomes, leadership role, target audience and impact on local, state or national level. Nomination Deadline and SubmissionAll nominations for the 2010 Leland Gayheart Award must be postmarked by October 4th, 2010. Completed nomination forms and educational/support materials may be mailed or faxed. Please note that education/support materials will not be returned and only the winning department will be notified.
Please FAX or mail completed forms to: 2009 Award RecipientThe Michigan Fire Inspectors Society is the winner of this year's Leland Gayheart Fire Safety and Prevention Award for their 2010 Fire Prevention Calendar. "This year's award winner is particularly outstanding because it focuses on delivering fire safety messages to our community throughout the year," said Karla Klas, BSN, RN, CCRP, Injury Prevention Education Specialist at the Trauma Burn Center. "A calendar is a fun way to remind us of the great variety of safety messages all the way from the importance of sprinkler systems to practicing home fire drills to the dangers of novelty lighters that may be mistaken for toys. The calendar also highlights the many organizations in our communities that support fire safety." Taylor Fire Marshal John Hager, who accepted the award on behalf of the society at the December 1 Taylor City Council meeting, was instrumental in using a $4,000 fire-prevention grant in August from FM Global to create the calendar. Hager, who serves on the executive board for the statewide organization, said 21,000 calendars were distributed to fire departments throughout Michigan and given away free of charge. He said the society will use the $500 cash prize for the award to print more calendars. "I'm proud to accept this on behalf of the Michigan Fire Inspectors Society," said Hager, a 13-year firefighter. "It was a very interesting experience and a lot of work in the designing, raising the funds and the printing process, but if the calendar saves one life or prevents one fire, then it was well worth every minute." "Raising fire safety awareness among the communities across the State of Michigan is one of the most important steps that can be taken to prevent fire related accidents from occurring," said Ronald R. Farr, State Fire Marshal. "I would like to congratulate the Michigan Fire Inspectors Society on their 2010 Fire Prevention calendar and thank them for their efforts to raise the level of fire safety awareness." ![]() Karla Kass, Taylor Fire Marshal John Hager 2008 Award Recipients2008 Leland Gayheart Fire Safety and Prevention Award winners are Bloomfield Township Fire Department and Oakland Community College Fire Training. "This award is near to our hearts because it enables us to recognize the amazing work our fire services colleagues do to increase the safety of our communities," said Karla Klas, BSN, RN, CCRP, Injury Prevention Education Specialist at the Trauma Burn Center. Bloomfield Township Fire Department won for its fire and injury prevention program targeted to second graders. "Fire Safety and Injury PreventionÑRisk Watch" was first developed for children by the National Fire Protection Association and then enhanced by Bloomfield Township's Fire Department. The program teaches children the importance of practicing safety including fire and burn prevention, practicing fire escape plans, motor vehicle safety, and bike and pedestrian safety. Results from pre- and post-testing show that the students retain a great deal of their safety knowledge. Oakland Community College Fire Training won for their Flashover Survival Training Program. Flashover develops rapidly with little warning and can catch firefighters off guard. It is the fire stage when contents are heated to their ignition temperatures and flames break out almost at once over all surfaces. The program teaches firefighters the recongnition of an imminent flashover and flashover delaying techniques so they can have those few extra seconds to retreat to a safe haven. The training unit is portable so they can provide this important safety education to all regions of Midhigan. "The award was not presented in 2007, so the TBC and Gayheart family were able to recognize both of these outstanding organizations this year," said Klas. ![]() Bloomfield: Lt./Inspector Vlahos, Karla Kass, Fire Marshal Mike McCully, Lt./Inspector Doug Brown ![]() Oakland: Ken Chesnut, Training Coordinator, Ron Roosevelt, Training Coordinator, Bill Cockerline, Special Project Manager, Deb Bayer, Director of the Combined Regional Emergency Services Training Center (CREST), Matt Sabol, Program Manager, Geoff Lassers, Flashover Instructor, Ann Morrin, Accounting Specialist, Lisa Braun Administrative Specialist 2006 Award Recipient
Presentation of Leland Gayheart Award Recipients 2006![]() The Trauma Burn Injury Prevention team presents the 2006 Leland Gayheart Fire Safety & Prevention Award to Dave Winans, of the Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department. Click here for more info. Past recipients of the Lee Gayheart Award2005
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Injury Prevention has a new office location and new telephone numbers Please mail completed forms and educational materials to:
Attention: Leland Gayheart Award Trauma Burn Center Room UH-1C435 Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5033 Phone: 734-232-3815 Fax: 734-232-3833 |