By Jeremy Webster
McPherson Sentinel – October 11, 2013
McPherson firefighters explain their equipment to Sonshine preschoolers so they wont be scared if they see firefighters in the future. The students visited the McPherson fire station as a part of Fire Prevention Weekt be scared if they see firefighters in the future. The students visited the McPherson fire station as a part of Fire Prevention Week. Photo by Jeremy Webster
The preschoolers were allowed to take a tour inside the firetrucks, which ended with firefighters demonstrating the siren for them. Photo by Jeremy Webster.
Every year during Fire Prevention Week, firefighting organizations take time to educate the public on fire prevention and safety strategies.
The theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week is Preventing Kitchen Fires. The National Fire Protection Association has material on this topic for families, teachers and fire professionals at www.nfpa.org/safety-information/fire-prevention-week .
Students in day cares, pre-kindergartens and grade schools across the county visit the local fire departments, where they are taught fire safety and given tours of firehouses.
On Wednesday, Sonshine Preschool students visited the McPherson Fire Department.
During their visit, they were given a tour of the firefighters’ living quarters, shown how the pole works, allowed to sit and look through the firetrucks and given a special fire safety presentation by the animatronic fire safety mascot Sparky.
The children also were given demonstrations so they wouldn’t be scared of firefighters if they would see them in the future.
In order to make the point that the suits and helmets were nothing to be frightened of, McPherson firefighters dressed one of the teachers in a full firefighter’s uniform, explaining the function of each piece as the children watched.
Sonshine Preschool Director and Teacher Treva Prieb said it was a great hands-on learning experience.
“I think it’s awesome,” Prieb said. “It helps the kids see firefighters as people, and not monsters.”
Preschooler Audrey Weimer said she really liked it when Sparky came out.
“He’s funny,” Weimer said. “I liked him.”
McPherson Fire Chief Jeff Deal said education was important, because they’d rather do as much as they could on the front end.
“One attitude toward fire prevention,” Deal said, “is that it’s equally as important as fire response. Every one of these elements, from public education to building inspection, helps meet that goal.”
The theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week is Preventing Kitchen Fires. The National Fire Protection Association has material on this top for families, teachers and fire professionals at www.nfpa.org/safety-information/fire-prevention-week .
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