Prevention through Education

For information on any of these programs please contact the Public Education Coordinator, Tomm Smithe, Jr. at 847-416-7583.

Educational Programs

The Wauconda Fire District is proud of our interaction with students in our schools.  Our staff works very hard to provide quality fire prevention and life safety programs to the young people of our community.

We begin in the many preschools and daycare centers in our district to provide students with a familiarization of firefighters and their equipment.  Our goal is that rather than be afraid of a firefighter, especially when they are in their protective gear, children will go to them for help.  Our primary plan is to build a sense of trust of firefighters in these young children.

Each elementary school in our district has a fire district representative who is known by the students on a first-name basis.  This firefighter meets with students monthly to share important fire and life safety tips.  Our goal is not only to teach the children of our community to be safe, but that they will bring the information home to teach their parents!

We serve elementary students in Cotton Creek School, North Barrington School, Robert Crown Elementary, Transfiguration School, and Wauconda Grade School.

We also provide a fire safety program to 8th grade students at Matthews Middle School, Transfiguration School, and Wauconda Middle School called the Chemistry of Fire.  This program educates 8th grade students about the dangers of flammable and combustible liquids.  The focus here is proper use and storage of these products we often take for granted.

We are also proud of our involvement with the many school-sponsored activities that occur throughout the year.

CERT - Community Emergency Response Team - Tier One ( Register Online )

Class starts:    Spring 2010   Register Now !!

Additional Information, Please contact Mike Wahl, 847-416-7504

CPR Classes ( Register Online )

The Wauconda Fire District strives to make quality education programs available to the public through the Public Education Division of our Fire Prevention Bureau.

Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation is one of these programs. We make this class available because it is likely that you, a member of the public, will be on the scene of an emergency when the need arises.

When a person stops breathing, he or she has only 4-6 minutes before their brain begins to die from the lack of oxygen. A person's best chance of survival is when a trained person begins CPR immediately to deliver that much needed oxygen. YOU can be that person.

The Wauconda Fire District teaches CPR Classes to the public on a regular basis. These are offered to the residents for our fire district for a fee of $45.00 and non-residents are welcome to our classes for a fee of $55.00. Because classes are very popular and space is limited, all persons registering for a class will need to leave a $25.00 cash deposit to hold their spot. When registering online, please send your deposit to:

Wauconda Fire District

CPR Registration

109 West Liberty Street

Wauconda, IL 60084

Persons that come to their scheduled class will be required to pay the balance of the fee.  Any person that does not come to their scheduled class will forfeit their deposit. A minimum of 8 persons is required to hold any class.  Everyone who completes the public class will receive a Laminated Skills Refresher Card and a CPR Pocket Mask.

Due to American Red Cross guidelines, cards WILL NOT be available immediately after the class session.  Cards need to be applied for through the American Red Cross and may take up to one month to receive.  If you need immediate proof of attendance, contact Tomm Smithe, Jr. at 847-416-7583.

CLICK HERE to Register Online for CPR Classes.

Groups with a minimum of 10 persons and a maximum of 20 may schedule a private class for CPR, First Aid, or Healthcare Provider CPR, based on instructor availability. There will be a $200.00 charge for all private classes. Private classes are limited to groups and or businesses within the Wauconda Fire Protection District.

Due to the nature of emergency services, a scheduled class may be subject to postponement last minute. If that occurs, every effort will be made to reschedule your class at the earliest possible date and time.

2010 Class Schedule

All Classes are the 2nd Thursday of the month, begin at 6 PM at Wauconda Fire Station One.

January 14, 2010       CPR for Adult, Child, and Infant with AED for Adult and Child

February 11, 2010      CPR for Adult, Child, and Infant with AED for Adult and Child

March 11, 2010          CPR for Adult, Child, and Infant with AED for Adult and Child

April 8, 2010              Healthcare Provider CPR

May 13, 2010             CPR for Adult, Child, and Infant with AED for Adult and Child

June 10, 2010            CPR for Adult, Child, and Infant with AED for Adult and Child

August 12, 2010         Healthcare Provider CPR

September 9, 2010     CPR for Adult, Child, and Infant with AED for Adult and Child

October 14, 2010        CPR for Adult, Child, and Infant with AED for Adult and Child

November 11, 2010     Healthcare Provider CPR

Birthday Party Program

This program provides parents an educational and low cost alternative for birthday parties. Children will enjoy a unique, fun and educational experience while celebrating their birthday.

Any child who lives within the Wauconda Fire District is eligible. Children who attend the party must be 5 to 10 years old and there is a limit of 10 children per party.  We also require 2 adult supervisors.

The Birthday Parties will be held at Wauconda Fire Station # 1, 109 W. Liberty Street in Wauconda.  Children will arrive at the fire station at 10:00 AM and will be greeted by a fire department representative, given brief instructions, and taken on an instructional tour of the station. After the tour the children will have their cake and ice cream. Parents will provide their own cake, ice cream, paper plates, cups, and drinks. Storage in the fire station refrigerator will be provided. The fire district will provide space for the party with tables and chairs. Birthday parties will conclude promptly at 12:00 PM and will be held on Saturdays only.

Fire Station Tours

Station Tours are provided for anyone who might be interested.  This is a great way to get a better understanding of how a fire station works and take a close look at the fire engines and other vehicles we use to protect our community.  You will be greeted by a friendly member of our staff who will be more than happy to answer any of your questions.  Walk-in tours are available during the day or early evening hours, but you can always call ahead to make an appointment as well.

Home Fire Safety Inspections

Do you have questions about the fire safety of your home?  If you live within the Wauconda Fire District we will be more than happy to come out, do an informal inspection, and give you ideas about how to make your home a safer place.

Fire Safety Sing Along Program

Instead of carrying an axe or a hose, these firefighters carry a guitar. This program is a great way for firefighters to teach safety messages to the preschool aged children of our community in a non-threatening manner.  Children love to sing along with the firefighters while learning important information that can help protect themselves and their families.

Parades

If you've been to a parade in our fire protection district, you've probably seen one or more of our vehicles. We are proud to show the residents of our fire district what they have provided us with to protect them.  We always do our absolute best to provide vehicles for the many villages we protect, but remember, emergencies sometimes make us unavailable!

Fireworks Inspection and Standby

Our Fire Prevention Bureau works with the villages that offer fireworks to ensure that the companies hired have all of the required licensure before they are allowed to set up their display.  We work with these professionals to ensure they maintain safe practices when handling and firing these powerful explosives.

Scholarship Program

Our Guns & Hoses Committee, consisting of members of the Wauconda Fire District and the Wauconda Police Department, plans a charity golf outing annually.  The monies raised from this event fund a variety of educational scholarships awarded to High School Seniors from the community which we serve.  Scholarship applications are available through your high schools guidance office.

"Remembering When" Program and Free Smoke Detector Program for Senior Citizens

"Remembering When" is a program that teaches fire and fall prevention to senior citizens.  The program is designed to help older adults live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.  We present the program to the many senior citizen groups throughout the Wauconda Fire District.

Through a state grant program, we are able to provide battery operated smoke detectors free of charge for the senior citizen residents of our community who own single family homes.

Juvenile Firesetter Intervention

 The Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Program is designed to help recognize dangerous firesetting behavior in children and adolescents.  The Wauconda Fire District has a staff of state certified intervention specialists who can interview at risk youth and their families.  If dangerous behavior is recognized by our specialist, families are referred to service agencies that can counsel and treat the behavior.

For information on any of these programs, please contact the Public Education Coordinator, Tomm Smithe, Jr. at 847-416-7583.