[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 12, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E821-E822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING SHIRLEY COPELAND

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CLIFF STEARNS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 2004

  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
honor a constituent of

[[Page E822]]

mine who received the 2004 Safety Education Hero Award from the Home 
Safety Council. Shirley Copeland, a safety educator from Alachua 
County, Florida, is this year's hero. The Safety Education Hero Award 
recognizes excellence in home safety education each year, and is 
presented for fire safety education that saves a life or avoids a 
disaster. The Home Safety Council in partnership with the Congressional 
Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and the National Fire Protection 
Association (NFPA) sponsor this distinction. Copeland conducted a fire 
safety lesson with the children at Terwilliger Elementary School as 
part of the Alachua County Fire Department's 2003 Fire Prevention Month 
outreach program. She used NFPA's Fire Prevention Week (FPW) campaign 
materials, ``When Fire Strikes: Get Out! Stay Out!'' During her 
presentation, Copeland explained the importance creating and practicing 
a family home fire escape plan, with an emphasis on conducting 
nighttime fire drills. Students received fire escape worksheets, which 
they took home to complete with their families.
  Copeland's lessons made quite an impression on Paul Jones (age 11) 
and Paige Jones (age 10) who immediately shared Copeland's information 
with their mother. The family discussed the steps of their fire escape 
plan, including quickly exiting the home, calling 9-1-1 from a 
neighbor's home and meeting at a designated area. Remembering 
Copeland's message about the importance of nighttime fire drills, the 
siblings asked their mother to awaken them in the middle of the night 
to put their home fire escape plan into action.
  Less than a month later on December 6, 2003, the family's preparation 
was put to the test. In the middle of the night as the family slept, 
sparks from the fireplace ignited a piece of furniture. Following the 
family's rehearsed escape plan, they swiftly fled to a neighbor's home, 
met at their designated meeting spot and dialed 9-1-1.
  Brenda Proctor now attributes her family's safe escape to Shirley 
Copeland's informative and memorable teachings. Learning of the 
incident, Copeland visited the family at their temporary home where she 
made sure they had working smoke alarms and a new fire escape plan. Mr. 
Speaker, Ms. Copeland received the 2004 Safety Education Hero Award on 
May 5, 2004 from the Home Safety Council during the annual CFSI 
National Fire and Emergency Services Banquet here in Washington, DC. I 
had the honor of meeting Ms. Copeland and am proud that this hero will 
continue to work and promote fire safety in the 6th District of 
Florida.

                          ____________________