Schedule Day 2
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30 am - 9:00 am | Registration Check-in |
| 8:30 am - 4:00 pm | Exhibitor Hall is Open |
| 9:00 am - 9:45 am | General Session: Navigating Social Media |
| 9:45 am - 10:00 am | BREAK |
| 10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Block D Workshops |
| 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | LUNCH |
| 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm | State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine 2026 Fire & Life Safety Educator of the Year Awards |
| 2:00 pm - 2:15 pm | BREAK |
| 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm | Block E Workshops |
| 3:15 pm - 3:30 pm | BREAK |
| 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm | Block F Workshops |
Workshop Categories
Core skills: Workshops to keep both new and experienced educators up to date on consistent messages and best practices
Partnerships: Workshops about developing and working within the partnerships that are essential to effective community risk reduction
Using the Tools: Workshops that introduce specific tools, props and curriculums that help teach fire and life safety
New Topics: Workshops about information new to the field or new to this conference
Day 2 Workshops:
General Session (9:00 am - 9:45 am)
Posting with Purpose: Social Media for the Fire Service
Jake Wark, Public Information Officer, DFS
Social media has become a powerful tool for sharing fire safety messaging, outreach initiatives, and daily department activity, but it also comes with challenges. This general session explores how social media and traditional news media can overlap, how to use both effectively, and how to navigate the “good, bad and ugly” of public comments and engagement. Participants will also learn best practices for posting during fire investigations and other sensitive incidents while maintaining professionalism and public trust.
Block D Workshops (10:00 am - 12:00 pm)
D1: NFPA Lithium-Ion Education and Messaging
Kelly Ransdell, Director of Public Education, NFPA
Lithium-ion batteries power many of the devices we use every day, from smartphones and laptops to e-bikes and mobility devices. Understanding how these batteries work, and what can happen when they fail, is essential for today’s fire and life safety educators. This session explores the science behind lithium-ion batteries, common causes of battery incidents, and best practices for safe use, charging, storage, and disposal. Participants will learn how to assess risks, communicate key safety messages and help families make informed decisions to reduce the potential for fires and injuries. Attendees will leave with practical educational tools, resources, and age-appropriate messaging strategies that can be used with audiences ranging from kindergarten students to older adults, making lithium-ion battery safety an effective part of everyday fire and life safety education.
D2: Sound Off: Interactive Fire Safety Education for Young Learners
Lt Katie Harrington, Worcester Fire Department
Discover Sound Off, a free and engaging home fire safety program designed primarily for students in grades 2-3 but adaptable for any elementary level. Through interactive activities, entertaining videos, and family take-home materials, students learn the importance of smoke alarms, identifying fire hazards, and practicing a home fire escape plan. Available in English and Spanish, the program helps educators reinforce life-saving messages in the classroom while encouraging families to take action at home, including accessing free smoke alarms through their local fire department.
D3: Teaching Fire Safety & Prevention Throughout the Year
Chief Michael Cassidy, Emergency Management Director, Holliston Fire Department
Cindy Ouellette, Retired Public Education Program Coordinator, DFS
Fire and life safety education doesn’t stop when the school year ends. This workshop will benefit those new to fire and life safety education, and educators who want to expand their program with fire safety lessons for each month. Attendees will review the calendar and identify appropriate topics for each month. Together we will develop ideas for educators to take back to their communities. Attendees will leave the workshop with a plan for fire and life safety education in each month of the year, tailored to their own communities.
D4: Fire Service Filmmaking: CRR Media & Content Creation on a Budget
Lt. Matt Morin, Emergency Management Coordinator, UMass Amherst
With today’s access to public media distribution platforms, anyone can promote their mission with content creation. In this workshop, participants will learn the basics of content creation including conceptualizing a message, drafting a script, filming, editing, and preparing content for distribution. With iOS and Android devices, affordable accessories, some patience, imagination, and practice, any department can create high production value material to reach their audiences. Bring your media tools, and an iPad or laptop with the free software Adobe Premiere Rush.
D5: Using Community Data to Protect Older Adults: A Practical CRR Workshop
Karen Berard-Reed, Senior Strategist and CRR Lead, NFPA
Chelsea Rubadou, Engineer and Staff Liaison, NFPA
How well do you know the risks facing older adults in your community? Join the NFPA CRR Team for an interactive workshop that demonstrates how data can transform community risk reduction efforts. Learn how to identify local risks, build a community risk profile, assess available resources, and develop targeted strategies to improve safety for older adults. Through hands-on activities and real-world examples, attendees will leave with practical tools and actionable ideas to support data driven decision-making in your community.
General Session (1:00 pm - 2:00 pm)
Conference Remarks and Educator of the Year Awards
State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine
Join State Fire Marshal Davine as he recognizes the outstanding work of fire and life safety educators from across the Commonwealth and announces the 2026 Fire & Life Safety Educator of the Year.
Block E Workshops (2:15 pm - 3:15 pm)
E1: From Incident to Recall: The CPSC Investigation Process
Sara Cadden, Product Safety Investigator, U.S. CPSC
Ever wonder what happens after a product-related fire, injury, or safety incident is reported? This workshop provides a behind the scenes look at the lifecycle of a Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) investigation, from incident reports and evidence collection to laboratory testing, recalls, safety standards, warning labels, and product safety improvements. Attendees will also learn about the diverse field work conducted by CPSC investigators, including retail inspections, removal of recalled products, investigations involving fires and injuries, inspections of resale stores for banned products, and the collection of fireworks samples at ports of entry. Discover how this small federal agency works every day to identify hazards, protect consumers, and prevent injuries nationwide.
E2: Adapting Senior SAFE Program for Diverse Populations
Peter Reardon, Public Education Officer, Brockton Fire Department
As communities become more diverse, fire and life safety educators must adapt their approach to effectively reach older adults from different cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This workshop explores strategies for adapting Senior SAFE programs, developing culturally responsive safety messages, and building trusted community partnerships to improve engagement and reduce risks among older adults. Attendees will leave with practical tools to make senior fire and life safety education more accessible, inclusive and effective.
E3: SAFE & Senior SAFE Grant 101
Sheryl Hedlund, Fire Data & Public Education Program Coordinator, DFS
Lt. Christie Clement, Assistant SAFE Coordinator, DFS; Marlborough Fire Department
This workshop explores the SAFE and Senior SAFE Grant Program from application to closeout. Learn how to navigate the Notice of Funding Opportunity, develop a strong application, understand funding determinations and manage grant requirements after award. We will share tips, best practices, and common pitfalls to avoid, helping you maximize funding opportunities for your department. Whether you are a first-time applicant or an experienced grant recipient, you will leave with the tools, resources, and confidence needed to successfully apply for and manage the SAFE and/or Senior SAFE grant.
E4: Every Student Every Drill: Teaching Students with Disabilities
FF/Paramedic Alexa Tierney, SAFE Coordinator, Needham Fire Department
Education fails when students can’t access it. SAFE educators must be equipped with the tools to make sure that never happens. This workshop builds confidence around a topic many firefighters find uncomfortable by reducing uncertainty and providing practical, adaptable strategies. The result is safer, more inclusive learning environments where every student can participate. An inclusive classroom serves students with a wide range of developmental, academic, and physical disabilities within a general K–12 setting. Participants will learn how small, intentional modifications can remove barriers and create safety education that works for the entire class.
E5: Recognizing and Responding to Older Adult Abuse: A Guide for Fire Service Professionals
Taryn Lee-Turgeon, Assistant Director of Protective Services, Executive Office of Aging & Independence
This workshop provides a foundational overview of Adult Protective Services (APS) and its role in supporting adults aged 60 and older living in the community. The session will highlight the important role fire service professionals play in identifying, reporting, and responding to concerns involving vulnerable older adults. Participants will gain an understanding of Protective Services mandates, reporting procedures, and common signs of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and self-neglect. The presentation will also emphasize the importance of collaboration between fire departments, Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs), and Protective Services agencies. Attendees will learn how coordinated communication and partnership efforts can improve interventions, enhance community safety, and better support older adults aging in place.
Block F Workshops (3:30 pm - 4:30 pm)
F1: Stress Awareness: Moving Beyond Resiliency
Rev. Bruce Arbour, Chief Fire Chaplain, Massachusetts Corps of Fire Chaplains
This workshop focuses on stress awareness, self-care, and support options available to individuals managing everyday stress and traumatic stress injuries. Participants will learn practical strategies and techniques to recognize, manage, and resolve stress related to both the job and daily life. The session will also highlight available resources and tools that can support overall wellness, resilience, and long-term career health through consistent stress management practices.
F2: Hot Topics in Fire Education
Chief Mike Cassidy, Emergency Management Director, Holliston Fire Department
The landscape of fire and life safety education is changing rapidly. As new technologies emerge and online marketplaces promote a growing number of safety products, communities are looking to fire and life safety educators for trusted, evidence-based guidance. In this session, we’ll move from the “heat” of common public questions to “cooler” science-backed answers. Topics include lithium-ion batteries, rooftop solar systems, kitchen fire blankets, escape ladders, carbon monoxide alarms and other emerging safety concerns. Learn how to separate fact from fiction, evaluate current safety recommendations, and translate technical information into clear, actionable messages for residents of all ages. Leave with practical tools and talking points to ensure your outreach remains relevant, credible, and effective in an ever-changing world.
F3: SAFE Exchange: Open House Tours
Lt. Katie Harrington, Worcester Fire Department
Fire Department Open House Tours are community events where fire stations open their doors to the public. Tours allow visitors to not only explore the facility and meet their local firefighters, but also the opportunity to learn fire safety. These tours often include equipment demonstrations, touch a truck, hands-on activities for children, and relaying information on the importance of having working smoke and CO alarms and an evacuation plan. This type of outreach event provides the opportunity for everyone involved to learn the importance of fire safety messages, to assist in reducing the risk of fire and falls, and to minimize the risks that firefighters face daily in their response efforts. Come prepared to gain and share some valuable tools!
F4: Bridging the Gap: Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults & Young Adults
Lt. Matt Morin, Emergency Management Coordinator, UMass Amherst
Emergencies don’t discriminate by age, but preparedness needs often do. This interactive workshop focuses on equipping two often-overlooked populations, older adults and college-aged students, with practical, accessible strategies for personal preparedness. This workshop will explore the unique challenges these groups face during emergencies, from mobility and medical needs to communication gaps and transient lifestyles. Learn how to build customized go-kits, develop support networks, and create realistic emergency plans that account for everything from power outages to evacuations. Whether you're planning outreach campaigns or building campus and community partnerships, this session will leave you with tools, messaging techniques, and ready-to-use resources to support preparedness across generations.
F5: Challenges, Lessons & Successes Learned from Establishing a YFS Program
Capt. John Amento, Regional Manager for Cape & Islands YFS Program, Cotuit Fire Department
Lt. Brian Bearse, Yarmouth Fire Department
This workshop will provide an overview of the Cape and Islands Youth Firesetting Prevention and Intervention (YFPI) Program, which began in Barnstable in 2022. It will highlight the development of the program through practical experience, specialized training, lessons learned, and real-world case studies. Attendees will learn about the program’s structure, review data and case examples, and gain insight into the partnerships and collaboration necessary to build a successful YFS program within their communities. The workshop will also address challenges encountered during implementation and the strategies used to overcome them.