LELAND GAYHEART PREVENTION AWARD

Leland Gayheart was a 23 year old firefighter that lost his life due to a devastating burn injury in 1991. As a tribute, the Leland Gayheart Prevention Award was created to encourage prevention programs within local fire departments. An honorarium is awarded annually to fire departments whose innovative efforts have demonstrated a statewide, countywide, or citywide impact on prevention and fire safety. This award is presented in joint effort by the Gayheart family and the University of Michigan Trauma Burn Center.

The award is presented annually to the Leland Gayheart Prevention Award recipient. This prestigious award includes a $500 honorarium, and a plaque.

ELIGIBILITY

All Michigan Fire Departments that are actively involved in fire safety prevention.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

All nominees must complete a nomination form and adhere to the format and length limitation described below to be considered for the award. All entries must include the following:

A synopsis of the program that explains its basic structure and outcomes to a broad audience. This section must include a paragraph describing the program and the problems it addresses; a list of organizations or individuals who have collaborated in the problem's design and/or implementation; a paragraph describing the essential elements of the strategy for implementing the program; and a brief summary of the program's outcomes. Synopsis must be typed, double-spaced and not to exceed five pages.
A sample of supporting materials utilized in the program (optional)
Completed nomination form

SELECTION PROCESS

All nominations will be reviewed by the University of Michigan Trauma Burn Center. Programs are judged on the program design, outcomes, leadership role, target audience and impact on local, state or national level.

NOMINATION DEADLINE AND SUBMISSION

All nominations for the 2012 Leland Gayheart Award must be postmarked by September 28, 2012. Completed nomination forms and supporting materials may be mailed or faxed. Please note that supporting materials will not be returned. Download Nomination Form (PDF)

Please FAX or mail completed forms to:

2011 AWARD RECIPIENT

The 2011 award winner is the Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department for its outreach to individuals with hearing, sight, and mobility impairments. Along with providing specialized fire safety education to individuals with disabilities and special needs, first responders received additional training to help them communicate with people who have hearing loss. The Grand Traverse department also helped to install specialized fire safety equipment in the homes of people with disabilities. Since the project began in 2009, about 640 individuals have been assisted. The program materials will be shared with other fire departments to use throughout the state.

For more information, please refer to the press release:

Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department Wins U-M Trauma Burn Award for Special Needs Outreach

PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS

2010 Farmington Hills Fire Department - Project "Hot Stove," teaching do's & don'ts in the kitchen

2009 Michigan Fire Inspectors Society - Fire Prevention Calendar

2008 Oakland Community College Fire Training - Flashover Survival Training Program for firefighters

2008 Bloomfield Township Fire Department - Fire safety and injury prevention in schools

2006 Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department - Juvenile Firesetter Program

2006 Marquette Fire Department - Juvenile Firesetter Program

2005 Roseville Fire Department

2004 City of Taylor Fire Department

2003 Melvindale Fire Department

2003 Dearborn Heights Fire Department

2003 Rochester Hills Fire Department

2003 Tittabawassee Fire Department

2002 Monroe Fire Department

2001 Brighton Fire Department

2001 Ferndale Fire Department

2000 Grand Junction Fire Department

2000 Livonia Fire Department

1999 Harper Woods Fire Department