Community | Milwaukee Fire Department (2024)

Firefighters/EMTs or paramedics talk about their career and what it takes to become a Fire/EMS professional. Emphasis is placed on general fire service recruitment or specific recruitment and information can be provided on our Fire Cadet program. Preferably, this is offered to groups ages 15 and above. For younger ages please see “School Fire Prevention Program” below.

Older adults today are more active and living longer, with the Milwaukee Fire Department recognizing the value of better health, which equals more independence. This program provides older residents information on the services offered by the Milwaukee Fire Department and additional resources provided by other agencies. The Elder Safe Program is designed for assisted and independent care facilities, religious groups, senior housing facilities, and other organizations whose focus is on education and safety of older adults. Lasting from 30 to 60 minutes, the presentation covers seasonal safety concerns, safe cooking, safe heating, and safe living. Additional emphasis is placed on injury prevention, handling medical emergencies, and preventative health practices for the enhanced quality of independent living. Educators also distribute the “File of Life,” a recognized holder that contains a resident’s medical information that will be necessary should an emergency arise.

The Milwaukee Fire Department takes the health and well-being of the community and its residents very seriously by having Firefighter/EMTs and Paramedics present information and answer questions about the City of Milwaukee EMS system. The MFD provides invaluable information focused on increasing the quality, availability, and effectiveness of community-based wellness programs designed to prevent disease and injury, improve health, and enhance quality of life. The presentations can be tailored to a specific audience such as school-aged children, teenagers, or adults, and is given in schools, places of worship, senior groups, and neighborhood organizations.

The Milwaukee Fire Department stresses, in this program, the importance of emergency planning and preparedness for your facility’s, organization’s, and employees’ safety. Topics covered include preparing for and handling various emergency situations, identifying possible hazard practices, and individuals at possible risk. The MFD Educators will review your current Emergency Action Plan with staff and provide resources for your organization on how to assess safety risks, set up procedures, and maintain a plan that fits the specific needs of the facility. Firefighters can attend a meeting or event to improve any emergency response by becoming familiar with the building, identifying possible hazards, and reviewing your plan to offer advice and answer pressing questions. Businesses large and small should have a plan in place for most disasters, big or small. Several Milwaukee businesses have found great value in the improved communication and insight provided by the Milwaukee Fire Department before an emergency occurs. Emergency Preparedness Plans should include identification of hazards, individuals at risk, location of exits, and exit routes as well as staff responsibilities for continued training. Follow this link for more information on the City of Milwaukee Emergency Preparedness Code.

The Milwaukee Fire Department places a great emphasis on fire prevention education, along with improving the health and quality of life for the city’s residents. Fire education booths are a vital addition to any organization’s health fair or community event. Every year, fire education specialists reach over 10,000 people with important messages on how to stay safe in the home, workplace, and at schools. Active Firefighter/EMTs or Paramedics staff public information booths and answer specific questions and pass out literature to attendees. When requesting this type of program, please be specific in describing the type of event, its purpose, the intended audience, and the primary language spoken by the attendees.

An Occupational and Residential Fire safety presentation is given to prepare for when disaster strikes. During these presentations an experienced firefighter will educate your group on what practical steps to take during an emergency. These can include prevention of fires and evacuation during a fire, recommended training, and how to prepare for tornados and other threats. This training is recommended for those in assisted living facilities or living in senior living communities; however, it is open to all age groups that may experience living situations that present specific hazards and unique options in the event of an emergency. Given to school teachers, businesses, etc.

This event is classroom-based and will present children with basic information on what to do when encountering a fire. Topics can include “Tools not Toys”; “Stop, Drop, Cover, and Roll”; and “Stay Low and Go.” Discussions include dangers of playing with lighters and matches, having two ways out of your house, having a meeting place, and using 911. Programs are tailored in time and content to the age and needs of the class.

Properly installed child safety seats save lives. The Milwaukee Fire Department Community Relations Division, in collaboration with Safe Kids Wisconsin,will perform car seat installations and safety checks upon request. To schedule an appointment, please fill out the request form.

Every year, thousands of Milwaukee children get the opportunity to experience the Survive Alive House. For those we miss, we bring the experience to you. The Milwaukee Fire Department has a state-of-the-art mobile Survive Alive House Unit, which can be brought to you. This mobile unit gives children the educational experience of escaping from a house fire. Children are given a brief instructional introduction and then are ushered into two separate bedrooms. For a bedroom fire, cinematic smoke is pumped into the rooms and children are given an opportunity to demonstrate how they would get out. For a kitchen fire, our LION BullEx SmartStove offers both visual lights and smoke resembling a stove top and/or oven fire, which can be extinguished using the laser-driven extinguisher. Staying low below the smoke, feeling the door for heat, and yelling for help are all reinforced during these unique learning experiences. Private schools are encouraged to have their students participate in this unique learning opportunity. Community groups hosting large events may make a request for the mobile Survive Alive House. Reservations for the Mobile Survive House are only available May – September and are weather permitting. Other restrictions may apply. This is intended to be an educational experience for the children and their parents.

Frontline Fire/EMS companies are available to give demonstrations of firefighting equipment and discuss fire prevention information to the residents in the areas they serve. MFD engines and trucks are available to make an appearance at local community functions, so your organization or neighborhood group can have the opportunity to interact with your local firefighters without the emergency prerequisite. Firefighters will give tours of the apparatus, put up the aerial ladder, distribute safety information, and answer questions of those in attendance, making your event an educational experience as well. Apparatus exhibitions can be canceled due to inclement weather; if there is a rain date for your event, please include this date in your request. Appearances may be shortened or canceled due to emergency service needs and the apparatus will remain in-service during your event and may need to leave during the event.

A program aimed at counseling young people who have a history of misusing flammable materials. Firefighters/EMTs and paramedics help juveniles and their families understand the destructive nature of fire.

Working with the American Heart Association, the Milwaukee Fire Department will instruct attendees with the steps to take when someone has sudden cardiac failure and collapses. You will learn when to activate the 911 system, the steps to take to provide CPR to the patient until EMS can arrive, and the proper use of an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator).

In collaboration with the Medical College of Wisconsin,Stop the Bleedis a national awareness campaign and call-to-action. It is intended to create awareness that encourages bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleedingemergency before professional help arrives.