Springfield students get up-close look for fire prevention week
SPRINGFIELD >> Firefighters nationwide visit elementary schools during fire prevention week to talk to students about fire prevention and fire safety. Springfield firefighters visited the schools in the township throughout the month of October.
Springfield firefighter Kevin Carney led the program last Thursday at Scenic Hills Elementary School. He talked to students about preventing fires and what to do in event of a fire.
Carney asked the students in each grade level if they have practiced fire drills at their homes, similar to the drills they practice monthly at school. Some raised their hands. He urged them to practice drills at their house so that they know what to do if the smoke detector sounds, or if there is smoke in their home. He said that their family members should designate a safe meeting place outside of their home, such as a neighbor’s house where they can call 911 during an emergency. Carney encouraged the students to learn their home address in case they need to report an emergency there.
Carney told the students that whether they are at school, at home or at a restaurant that they should get out of a building and stay out if it is on fire. He urged them that they never go back inside until the fire chief declares that it is safe, including if it was a fire alarm that sounded.
Carney said by having a designated meeting place, families can ensure that everyone is accounted for or to know if anyone is missing. He urged the students to exit safely and not hide during a fire. Carney urged the kids that if they cannot exit, to close the bedroom door, go to the window and yell for help in the event of a house fire.
“We have a ladder on every truck that will reach the bedroom of any house in Springfield,” Carney said.
During searches, firefighters check under the bed, on top of the bed, behind doors, closets and other similar areas in case someone hid or was unable to exit.
Captain Stephen Edwards Senior put on his full protective clothing gear and SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) to show the students what firefighters will look like at an emergency scene. Carney told the students that firefighters may look a “scary monster” but he wanted the students to know what they will look like so the kids know who is there to help them.
Scenic Hills teacher John Patella reviewed with the students what they learned in his gym class that is relative to firefighting – that firefighters are swift, safe and they have the ability to sustain by enduring physically demanding tasks for a long period of time.
“Firefighters are strong, not only in their bodies, but also their minds,” Patella said. “Firefighters never give up. They are always here to help you.” Carney and Edwards assisted the Scenic Hills teachers who operated the booster line from the apparatus. Several students told the firefighters that their favorite part of the presentation included seeing the fire apparatus and when their teachers demonstrated how to use the booster line.
The Springfield Fire Company hosted its open house last Friday during national fire prevention week. The Springfield firefighters taught visitors how to stop, drop and roll. They also let the visitors crawl low in the “smoke trailer” to practice staying low in smoky conditions as they crawl to the exit. Lastly they held a vehicle rescue demonstration by using hydraulic tools to remove the car doors and the roof.