Photos Mary Lahr Cain
Jason Murphy of the Raleigh Fire Department reads to kindergarteners at Polenta Elementary School as part of their Fire Safety Week activities.
Fire Safety/Fire Prevention Week was observed Oct. 9 - 15 by local fire departments and Johnston County Schools.
Many area elementary schools and preschools were visited by their local fire departments this week as a part of their overall discussions of fire prevention and safety.
The 50-210 Fire Department visited McGee’s Crossroads Elementary School kindergarteners and first graders on Tuesday, Oct. 11 and then the Dixon Road Elementary School students the next day.
Firefighter David Penny, Jr. talked with the students about the importance of fire safety in school and at home. He touched on the points that the students would hear all week, including the importance of smoke detectors in the home, never playing with matches or lighters, and the fact that fire gets big fast so children should “stay low and go”.
One thing Penny mentioned over and over to the students was that they can’t play hide and go seek with a fire. Firefighter Clyde Parrish put on all the gear that firefighters use in an emergency so that the children would see what they look like wearing the big, bulky equipment and their faces covered.
Students even received a homework assignment from the firefighters. David Penny asked each student to go home and ask their parents or guardians if they had smoke alarms and if they did to test them.
At Polenta Elementary School, Firefighter Jason Murphy from the Raleigh Fire Department read a book about fire safety to kindergarten and first grade students and answered questions. Teachers at Polenta incorporated important safety messages into fun activities for the students including fire truck cookies and a recipe book.
Polenta kindergarten teacher Mrs. Starla Sherman even taught the children a fun song about fire safety. “You got to stop, drop and roll. You got to stop, drop and roll. You got to stop, drop and roll, to put the fire out.”
Families that do not have a smoke detector in their home can call their local fire department and request one. They have a limited supply and will hand them out on a first come, first served basis. Cleveland Fire Department’s phone number is 919-989-1909 and the 50-210 Fire Department phone number is 919-894-4763.
Contact Mary Lahr Cain at 919-552-5675 or mcain@heartlandpublications.com.
Post a Comment
