The TAPP-C Program
About
50% of all arson fires are started by children. Most of
these children are motivated by curiosity and their
fascination with fire; and for others, fire play or fire
setting can be a symptom of other problems and can lead to
tragic consequences. Children can start fire setting at any
age and it is often a progressive behaviour. This means that
without help and fire education, fire play can quickly
progress into fire setting, which could threaten the safety
of the child and others.
This
Program for Children helps families deal with children who
may be involved in fire play or fire setting. The aim of
TAPP-C is to promote fire safety among children and youths
aged 2-17 years.
TAPP-C
is effective because it combines fire safety education with
an assessment, which provides a more comprehensive approach
to the problem of fire setting. The TAPP-C program brings
together the Fire Services and counselling professionals to
educate young fire setters and their families about fire
safety, to conduct an assessment regarding the risk of
continued fire setting and to help them deal with problems
they may be facing.
Referrals to the TAPP-C program are accepted from parents
and community services providers.
The Assessment
When a
referral to the TAPP-C program is made, the counsellor will
contact the child and his/her parents to arrange for
individual interviews. A risk assessment is done and
recommendations for risk education are made.
An
assessment through a counselling agency is intended to
determine why a child is involved in fire setting and
whether treatment is required. The TAPP-C assessment
evaluates a child or youth's risk of further injury or
fatality. Once assessed, children and their families may be
referred for appropriate counselling.
All
personal information gathered during this program is
securely maintained and cannot be disclosed to anyone
without signed consent.
The Fire Services
The
Pickering Fire Services, or your local Fire Department, will
provide fire safety education training for both the parents
and the child/youth. The fire safety educational component
of the TAPP-C Program focuses on certain fire safety
behaviours that include such things as reducing hazards in
the home and understanding the power of fire.
To
start the program a fire safety educator will visit the
home. The educator will work with the child and family to
complete a fire safety audit of the home. Once completed,
recommendations are made to make the home as safe as
possible. Also, a fire safety plan is developed so that the
family will know what to do should a fire start.
Following the home visit, there are usually 3 to 4,
forty-five minute sessions of instruction held in the Fire
Station, and are scheduled to suit the family's timetable.
Once
the child/youth has completed all the sessions, he or she is
presented with a certificate. The child and family can
contact the Educator at any time after completion of the
program and are encouraged to come by the fire hall for a
visit.
Warning Signs
-
Your child likes to play with matches and lighters and
uses them like toys.
-
You
have concerns about your child's behaviour and their
fascination with fire.
-
You
have found burned items/toys in or around your house and
garage, or on your child's body.
-
Fire materials, such as lighters or gasoline, are easily
accessible or go missing.
-
You
have caught your child playing with fire or fire
materials.
