When I Grow Up, I Want To Be ... A Firefighter!

All the kids wonder,
"What would it be like to be a firefighter?"

One of a young child's favorite field trips is to the fire station. There, he's introduced to Mr. Firefighter, his clunky yet all-important fire suit, the awesome hook-and-ladder truck, and special lifesaving equipment.

Fan the flame of discovery in your child!







Fire Prevention Week

October 4-10, 2009

NFPA theme: Stay Fire Smart! Don't Get Burned!

Five Fire Safety Tips

Firefighter Dayna and Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog want to share five fire safety tips to help you and your family stay fire safe. (Photo courtesy: PBS KIDS Sprout)

Fire safety tips to share with your children:

1. Smoke alarms help keep you safe. When you hear the sound from a smoke alarm, it is telling you to "Get out! get out!"
2. In case of fire, be sure to crawl low under the smoke on your hands and knees--the air is cleaner and cooler there.
3. It is important to have an escape map and an outside meeting place. A tree, a mailbox, or a fence may make good meeting places.
4. Have a home escape map and practice your home fire drill with your family two times a year.

Firefighters help us to stay safe. They know how to put out fires. Firefighters wear special clothes to keep them safe. They will come to help you.

For parents:

1. One of the most important tools to help you stay safe from fire is a working smoke alarm. It can help save your life and the lives of your loved ones. According to the Home Safety Council, more than 95% of the households in a 2004 phone survey had at least one smoke alarm. Approximately half of all home fire-related deaths occurred in the roughly 5% of homes without smoke alarms. However, in homes with smoke alarms in which home fires were reported, 65% of those homes had smoke alarms that did not work. Common reasons for non-working smoke alarms were missing, dead, or disconnected batteries.

• • Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement.
  • Install smoke alarms both inside and outside sleeping areas.
  • Install smoke alarms on the ceiling or above eye level on the walls, and be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.
  • Test the smoke alarm once a month.
  • Change the smoke alarm batteries twice a year.
  • Occasionally vacuum smoke alarm to keep free of dust.
  • Replace smoke alarms after 8-10 years.

2. When a fire occurs, the air is cleaner and cooler 12-24 inches from the floor. Children should realize the importance of crawling on their hands and knees, not on their bellies.

3. Be sure to have a designated meeting place and be sure everyone in your household knows and understands where the meeting place is. A tree, fence, mailbox, or even the neighbor's house may make good meeting places.

4. Sit down with your family and make an escape map. Know two ways out of every room. Practice your home fire drill using your escape map two times a year.

5. Many times children tend to hide from firefighters during an actual fire-related situation. Children need to know that firefighters are helpers and are their friends and are there to help them.

*These safety tips were found at Sparkles' and Firefighter Dayna's website.

God has designed each of us with particular talents and gifts for a purpose. And as a parent, you have the awesome responsibility of guiding your child to discover his/her calling. Enjoy the process of mentoring your children to become what God desires for them as you explore their delighted interest in the various I-wanna-be dream jobs featured at Schoolhouse Store.

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