Monday's Child

Admiring fire trucks and practicing quarterly drills is not enough fire safety for very young children. As with anything else we care about or think is important, young children need what we call “hands on” experience --real life touch, see, and do activities.

Every year for years, my volunteer fire fighting daughters showed up at the Garden School in their fire gear: helmets, SCBAs (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) coat, pants, boots, and gloves like some out-of-this-world creature. It’s a little scarry, but as they slowly pealed away the gear to reveal a friendly face, the kids think it’s fun. And children are reminded that in a fire, a fireman will rescue them completely in gear and not to be afraid. But still, it’s not enough.

We've been to fire stations, and we've had the fire department into the school several times a years. This week on Wednesday, the Garden School children will visit the Stay Alive House out at the fairgrounds.

We called the fire station to reserve a block of time, and every year the kids get a nice morning working on fire drills and "in cases."

The children are always delighted with fire questions. The firemen demonstrate how a firefighter puts on his gear. “He’s going to put on his fire pants,” says Mike. All the kids will watch him put on a big pair of boots. While they wait, Kurt will step into the huge boots and pull up the fire pants. The kids are always delighted at the idea of pants and boots together. “That’s neat; I’m gonna do that at home,” said one child last year, and we all wondered how that would work with sneakers and shorts.

“What do you do if your clothes catch on fire; do you run?” asked a firefighter last year.
“No,” replied Brandon, “You stop, drop and roll.”
“Good,” said the fireman.
“How many of you have a plan to get out of your homes in a fire?” About a third of the children’s hands went up.
“When you go home tonight, ask your parents what they want you to do in case of a fire.”
All the children promised they would.

The firemen always allowed the children to spray water from the fire hose. Each of the 35 children get to hold the hose and pull the lever back. The children like the feel of the powerful hose and rush of the water.

Every child gets to climb into the fire truck and sit at the wheel. It was a long way up for some, but a delight when they grasped the wheel and imagine driving the big powerful engine out of the firehouse and into the street with the siren blaring is too great to pass up.

Then, it's out the other door of the cab and another climb onto the back of the truck. “Here is where we store the hoses, and this is where a fireman sits, and here is the place we put this tool, and that one.” The kids are always really impressed with all the equipment.

Last year, there was a radio dispatch from central. The kids stood in quite anticipation. Would the firemen be called out to a fire right in front of them? “We welcome the Garden School,” said the dispatcher. All the kids clapped with joy. It was a splendid touch to a wonderful trip. The kids took home coloring books, stickers and tot finders.

The firemen at anyt station will provide exactly the kind of hands on activities children can really learn from while they dream and play. It’s a thing every child care and school should do at least once a year because it means touching and seeing and being reminded that fire is dangerous and that there are wonderful firemen willing, able and ready to help should a fire start.

This is fire prevention week. Make sure your child visits a station or call a station and invite them to come and demonstrate fire safety.