Safety……………..what to do in a fire…….how to call 911, when…..what to do with matches…..
Questions, questions, questions???????
Just what 1st grade is trying to learn to ask. Good Questions.
These were just a few of our Questions when we went walking around the block.
What to do in a fire?
Where do we go?
What do we do with matches?
Are fireworks allowed ? ( BIG NO, not ever)
Is Firework difficult?
Is it Dangerous?
What are the things we need to do to be safe?
Can fire be a good thing?
We went to see our local Firestation as a part of our monthly Community Helpers work.
In they came both engines just as we arrived it was so dramatic and exciting…..was that planned?
The Engines are soooo shiny and beautiful.
In they went as we got ready to visit a Firestation and talk to the incredible Firemen.
They are so brave!
This is the back of the station.
In we go…..wave hello to our heroes.
This is the entrance, Ms. Wolfson and her third graders are our year long buddies.
Into the firestation through the office where they take calls and have excellent maps and equipment to know where they are going in the city.
This tiny site Number 62 handles the most calls in Oxnard. They literally are Always on the Go.
So what did we see?
First we stopped and saw their meeting and “relaxing room” and peeked at their kitchen. They live here on a shift.
Teamwork is essential. It means everything plus they respect absolutely the leadership roles they have knowing these are earned. That makes them very disciplined.
How did it go?
Children listened very carefully to the talk about the station, fire work and most of all safety.
You need to graduate high school and have college to have this job.
Being a good person and a hard working person is important.
The Firefighters reminded us all 911 in Emergencies only. They showed us how to do that.
They talked about how to stay low in a fire.
Stop Drop and Roll if covered by fire.
They told us that we have to check a door with our hand if in a smoke filled house to watch the way to go.
They told us nooooo matches, if we find them they go to adults ( one year this helped Mrs. Puglisi so much as a student found several lighters and gave them to her)
We learned about driving safety and bike safety and loads of things about their job.
Firefighters have a long work time, they sleep in the Station. Then they are always ready for a call.
Fireman work out.
We were told that if they didn’t the stress and exertion might bring on a heart attack. So they keep their bodies in excellent shape. We could tell they were strong!
Firefighters read.
This was the bed they use, to sleep at night. We saw …they have books important to them. Mrs. Puglisi noted that.They like reading, just like she does, reading to center and find calm. Many kids saw amthais, one saying he was a man of God.
We met the Fire Chief, amazingly, Mr. Tuitama. ( Oxnard’s Chief) That was so incredibly cool.
He is a specialist in hazardous materials. He really, really is so well respected in our city. Mrs. Puglisi often sat beside his family at high school games where his son was incredible-no play was played in three years he wasn’t in the middle of it. So it was an amazing treat to have him there.
Our hero! ( Mrs. Puglisi has taught some of his kin folks)
He gave us lots of goodies to take back, stickers, magnets, pencils. He was so good with all the kids but it’s not hard to tell why he is so respected. His son plays college ball at BYU too! Mr. Tuitama is really a local hero.
We were very lucky to meet him. Mrs. Puglisi said she was doubly lucky as Sylvia was with us and she also knows his family a bit too. And he knew her.
Our station has trucks marked 62, so we ALWAYS know now to look for them.
We were learning about how the engine works, this is the Engineer explaining the water pressure, volume of water and how fast the water on the truck is used, in 4 minutes! They use a hydrant when they need more water and we knew that one! Imagine the amount of water a fire needs.
He was so great with these children and all of our children behaved excellently, it was a wonderful trip.
Our two Firefighters gave us a really fine talk and tour of their Station.
We llearned about the fire clothes and how they are protected in a real fire and use oxygen tanks to breathe.
Here is how they turn it on.
A bell sounds if they lose their oxygen.
Or if they are “down.” May they never go down.
Putting on the layers.
This clothing in all weighs 60 pounds but it is made to never catch fire. That’s important.
When the mask is on the smoke cannot hurt their lungs, really important in a fire.
Turning on the equipment.
We were really impressed with the engines.
Just to give you an idea of the size.
Right as we were all trying the hose a call came. So we backed up, off they went.
Time to do their work. We waited a bit but it must have been a call that needed them for awhile.
Trying out the hoses.
Time to go do their job.
Bye!
A quick peek at their office.
We locked up!
It was exciting
We know with these heroes at work we are safer than ever
Thank you fire fighters for all you do.
Now some links that might be interesting.
This is a wonderful site that is made by a teacher containing books and lots of poems, songs and sites about Fire Safety. A treasure.
I like to use this video before or after our trip. It shows a similar trip through a fire station. If you cannot go yourself this is a very good substitute and well worth finding. (too bad I have to link to Amazon, I do not really in anyway endorse or support their company. )
There Goes A Firetruck
This is a cool DVD
Real Wheels – Truck Adventures (There Goes a Truck/Fire Truck/Garbage Truck)
So some other good links to try include
Sparky the Firedog, with on-line games.
USAF for Kids
Here are 10 tips from About these are exactly what the Fire Fighters taught the children in our visit,, especially important for us to g over in health planning and communiication with families:
Child care providers, teachers and parents alike should partner together to teach children of all ages, and especially youngsters, about fire safety. Here are 10 tips for teaching fire safety for kids.
1. Escape Route Planning
Designate two ways out of every room, if at all possible. Parents should evaluate their home and establish a plan in those instances.
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2. Windows Are For More Than Fresh Air
Make sure that windows are not stuck closed, that screens can be removed quickly, and that security bars can be opened. For parents in particular, if a child’s bedroom is upstairs, they should be able to complete these tasks in the event of an emergency.
3. Second Floor Safety
Escape ladders should be placed near second floor windows, and children should practice using them. For extremely young kids, a “mini-exercise” from a first-floor window can at least educate the child as to expectations.
4. Feeling Way to Safety
Children should practice feeling their way out of the home in the dark or with their eyes closed. Parents and providers can turn this into a game by blindfolding a child and placing in a room and asking them to feel their way to a designated area. Daycares and child care providers can set it up an obstacle course, and then provide cues and help so that when they reach a designated end point, a special treat awaits! (It could be as simple as lunch served outside!)
5. 9-1-1 Is A Critical Teaching Skill
Children show know how to call 911. Consider teaching a 911 song to reinforce the numbers (one option is sung to “Frere Jacques”): There’s a fire! There’s a fire! 9-1-1! 9-1-1! Call the fire department! Call the fire department! 9-1-1! 9-1-1! Reinforce this by letting them practice on an unplugged phone. Or, have them create telephones with large keypads they can practice on. (One crafty child care provider uses the small sticky notes taped on a cardboard phone cut-out.)
6. Smoke Detectors 101
Teach children about smoke detectors, why they are installed, how they work, and the sound that they make. Children need to be able to associate the sound going off with a fire as part of fire safety for kids. Adults should change batteries regularly to avoid having the alarm go off because batteries are running low, and risk frightening a child.
7. Out Means Stay Out
Teach children that once they are out of a burning house or building, they must go to the designated place and never, ever venture back in. If someone or a family pet is missing, they should inform a fire fighter or adult. There are too many tragedies that could have been avoided in the cases where an individual who has gotten out safely to venture back in the home or building, only to perish.
8. It’s In The Touch
Instruct kids how to check doors to see if they are hot, and if so, how to find another way out. Fire safety for kids includes having them find a towel to use for handling, touching or grabbing items to avoid burns, and to also use the towel or cover to protect their faces and cover their mouths.
9. Stop, Drop and Roll
Teach kids what to do in the event that their clothes catch fire. Make sure they understand “stop, drop and roll.” Many a fire-related injury could have been avoided or greatly minimized if a child heeded this advice instead of the natural instinct of running.
10. Practice Monthly
Practice your escape plan at least twice a year with children as part of fire safety for kids, preferably monthly. Families and providers should also practice fire drills and alter areas affected by fire.
Everyone needs those pointers.
Here is a great set of Fire Safety Standards that every parent
needs to read.
Teacher here are lesson plans to make your work a bit better K-2
So be safe and be sure and thank a Fire Fighter!
