By Julie Clements
El Dorado Times – October 8, 2013
Submitted by Newz Group Clipping Service – October 22, 2013
Students at Skelly Elementary School learned some tips to stay safe in the kitchen and also in a fire during a special visit by four El Dorado firefighters Monday morning as part of Fire Prevention Week.
The theme for this year’s week is “Get Cookin’ with Fire Safety” and focuses on preventing kitchen fires.
To start the presentation, students watched a video about kitchen safety.
Among the tips were to stay three feet from the stove, always check with an adult before using the microwave, if burned put the burn in cool water for three to five minutes and tell an adult, and open containers with hot food slowly and away from one’s face.
Following the video, the firefighters, Lt. Jack Zimmerman, Driver Shane McCoy, Driver Quentin Sage and Firefighter Caleb Carson, talked to the students further about fire safety.
They began by getting a volunteer to demonstrate how to stop, drop and roll.
Zimmerman also told the kids they should know their address in case they have to call 911.
In addition to the safety tips, the students got to see what a firefighter looks and sounds like with all of the firefighting hear on.
Carson suited up as if for a fire, then talked to the students and walked around the gym getting high fives.
The students learn the firefighters try to get out of the station in two minutes when a call comes in.
They concluded the program by talking a few questions.
The first was what if a pet is in a fire.
Zimmerman told the students not to worry about getting the pet out, rather to get themselves out, then tell a firefighter about the pet.
“A lot of times what we see is a pet will figure a way out and often be outside before you are,” he said.
He also told the kids they should have a safe meeting place outside and always go there in the case of a fire.
Another question talked about having doors shut.
Zimmerman said it was safer to have bedroom doors closed, and they should check the door with the back of their hand to see if it is hot. If it is hot, they should throw a blanket or sheet out the window so the firefighters will know there is a rescue in that room.
Following the presentation, firefighters said goodbye to all of the students as they left the gym.
Be First to Comment