Recently, the City of Woodstock has started “marketing” the fire department. Why would we need to do that? Who benefits from this marketing? Obviously, serving the Woodstock community is a high priority. However, how citizens are served has changed over the years. Of course, emergency calls are still handled, but the list of how the Woodstock Fire Department (WFD) serves in addition to emergency situations has expanded. Here are some examples of how the WFD is now marketed:
- Present at career days at middle schools - Teach public safety classes at high schools- Educate seniors at assisted living homes- Show trucks and gear at festivals in local neighborhoods and daycares- Represent the fire department at HOA meetings and planning committees- Perform car safety seat inspections at the fire department and local events- Write articles (like this one) to educate the general public
Everyone, from parents who must assist their child with making a home escape plan for homework to the seniors who now understand that mobility is much harder as we age, will benefit from these programs. There are educational programs in place that address all ages, and many driven firefighters want to teach citizens how to keep themselves, their families, their homes, and their workplaces safe.
Another important reason for these programs is to create awareness. There are many adults who ask questions like, “Why is there a fire truck at my house when I called for an ambulance?” or “Can my gas stove really put off carbon monoxide?”
One popular adult program is the Woodstock Citizens Public Safety Academy. This is an eleven-week program that runs twice a year, in the spring and fall, once a week on Thursday evenings. Citizens attend fire and police classes and hear presentations. Participants take field trips to the Cherokee County Fire Training Center to learn about search and rescue techniques and receive presentations about the use of thermal imaging cameras. Participants also visit the Cherokee County Sherriff’s Office firearms facility to learn about judgmental shooting. Each public safety agency is covered, so participants gain a better understanding as to when and why they do what they do. Many past participants have expressed their satisfaction with how many new things they learned.
So, the fire department is marketed in these ways to make citizens aware and to educate them, so they can remain safe and prepared in case of an emergency.
WFD encourages you to prepare yourself and your family by educating yourself in fire safety and injury prevention. If you have questions or you need information on these subjects, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 770-592-6000 ext. 1845. If you are interested in participating in the next Citizens Public Safety Academy, the spring class is scheduled to start in late February.
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