The staff of Hoffman SummerWood Community in West Hartford practiced putting out fires one recent afternoon at the community’s annual fire safety training session led by Fire Protection Team (FPT) trainers. Each staff member had an opportunity to “Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep (P.A.S.S.)” their own fire extinguisher to put out a large vat of flammable liquid set up in SummerWood’s parking lot. All staff — from housekeepers to chefs to nurses to office workers — took part in the training — which was followed by a cook-out. SummerWood’s Executive Director Joan Carney explained the reason for the annual training session: “Our residents’ safety and well-being is our number one priority.”

CAP: Fire Protection Team’s Jay Patterson looks on as SummerWood nurse Rosemary Semanski demonstrates her fire extinguisher skill.