Risk Watch Maryland is coordinated through the EMS for Children Department at MIEMSS and works in partnership with Safe Kids Maryland. The MSFA Fire & Injury Prevention and Life Safety Committee is a lead member of the Maryland Risk Watch Community that includes 17 communities with RISK WATCH® programs in community safety education, school classrooms, after school programs, home schooling programs, hospital prevention programs, and Safe Kids Coalitions. The RISK WATCH® curriculum includes fire and injury prevention and disaster preparedness educational resources that are targeting children from preschool through eighth grade. Maryland's Risk Watch work includes activities and programs for both children and youth merging prevention materials from American Trauma Society, Department of Natural Resources, FEMA Ready, NFPA, Poison Centers, and Safe Kids Worldwide. The 2022 “Steps to Safety” interactive displays at the MSFA Convention were a great success and it was great to be back in person to educate families. A detailed summary of the June 2022 Risk Watch & Safe Kids “Steps to Safety” is included in the Fall 2022 report to the MSFA. Planning will start in the fall for the 2023 Convention. Volunteers will again be needed - ON LINE registration will be open in May.
Ongoing Risk Watch programs include:
- Prevention training and resource sharing at MSFA Fire & Injury Prevention and Life Safety Committee meetings throughout the year
- Prevention & Life Safety educational display at four MSFA Executive Committee meetings each year
- Interactive prevention educational displays for children, youth and families during the annual MSFA Convention with outreach to youth members to assist with the education
- Participation in Safe Kids Maryland and seven local coalition meetings and activities throughout the year
- Dissemination of training DVD "What to Expect When you Dial 9-1-1" and “Right Care When It Counts”
- Promotion of the Right Care When it Counts awards from Maryland EMS for Children (presented annually each May during EMS Week)
- Development of media and training materials specific to injury risk areas
Maryland’s Risk Watch team can be contacted by email – riskwatch@msfa.org or through the EMSC program office at MIEMSS 410-706-1758.
** For more information about the Maryland RISK WATCH Community contact the committee leader - Cynthia Wright Johnson MSN RNC at cwright@miemss.org or 410-706-1758.