Adopt-A-School Fire Fighters:

Third and Fourth Grade Program

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Briefly Review

  • Hot objects that can burn

  • Cool a burn under cool water for 10-15 minutes

  • Matches and lighters ARE NOT TOYS! Pick them up, and give them to an adult that you know. ALWAYS TATTLE on a brother, sister, or friend that are playing with matches or lighters. You could be saving their life!

  • Smoke detectors…Every home should have one on each floor and
    preferably one in each bedroom. Change the batteries every six months.

  • Every family should have a home escape plan. Plan for two ways out of every room.

  • Hot smoke rises toward the ceiling, leaving cooler, cleaner air close to the floor. Crawl on your hands and knees beneath the smoke….YELL FIRE…FIRE!

  • Stop, Drop, and Roll and cover your face with your hands in the event your clothes catch fire.

For early ages we just told them what to do.
Now we need to explain THE WHY!

Fire Prevention

You need fuel, heat, and oxygen to make a fire (Ask the students for examples).

Most fires are caused by poor habits and mistakes.

Cooking fires - Extinguishing a fire with an extinguisher or by other means should ONLY BE DONE BY ADULTS

  • Put a lid on it (takes the air away).
  • Turn the heat off (takes the heat away).
  • Call 9-1-1 and help will come. (Tell them about a cooking fire that became a house fire)
  • Never put metal or aluminum in the microwave.
  • Pot and pan handles should be turned towards the wall (prevents them from getting knocked off the stove)
  • Towel and oven mittens should NOT be hung on the oven door (These may get caught behind a hot oven door)
  • Keep paper towel away from the oven

Electrical Fires are Sometimes Caused by:

  • Pulling the cord away from the outlet, rather than the plug
  • Frayed extension cords
  • Extension cords in open areas that get walked on (breaks down the fibers in the cord, which causes electrical arching). Plugs should be plugged directly into the outlets. If you must use an extension cord, keep it against a wall.
  • Overloading outlets with too many plugs (careless use of adapters).


Smokers' Materials - Smoking cigarettes is a Dirty and Nasty habit! It can make you very sick, and can even kill you. Be your own person and stay away from kids that smoke. For those that have family members that smoke, certain precautions must be taken.

  • A smoker should never smoke while lying down, especially in bed. The smoker could fall asleep and drop the cigarette.
  • A smoker should use a safe ashtray (one that won't burn, won't tip over, and an unattended cigarette won't fall out of the ashtray).
  • The cigarette materials (ashes, cigarette butts) should be dumped into a waste container with a tight fitting lid or in the toilet.
  • Smokers should keep all ashtrays, matches, and lighters out of reach of small children.
  • Ashtrays should never be left on the floor.

Hazardous Materials

Gasoline, propane, kerosene, and other flammable liquids should always be stored outside in a shed or garage.

Fire Survival

Smoke Detectors

  • Provide for escape time
  • Have a smoke detector on each floor
  • One should be in every bedroom (in case the fire starts in your bedroom)
  • Test monthly
  • Vacuum and change the batteries every six months (when you change your clocks)

Residential

  • Everyone should have and practice a home escape plan. Pre-fire planning can save lives. Even fire fighters practice and train for their jobs. All professionals practice.

  • Everyone should sleep with his or her door closed (keeps out fire and smoke). Feel the door for heat with the back of your hand. If it's not hot, open the door slowly and check for smoke and fire in the hallway.

  • Everyone should know two ways out of every room, especially your bedroom. In a house, use windows as a second way out…..throw a heavy toy through the screen. Exit the building on your hands and knees.

  • If you are on the second or third floor, and you cannot get out…DO NOT HIDE IN A CLOSET OR UNDERNEATH YOUR BED. Fire fighters will come to rescue you. Wave a towel or sheet out the window to alert the fire fighters that you are trapped.

  • Know all the exits and stairwells, which can be used in your apartment building.

  • Call 9-1-1 from a neighbor's house and give the following information to the emergency dispatcher:
    • Your full name
    • Address of the fire and the nearest cross street
    • The phone number your calling from
    • DO NOT hang up until told to do so

  • Go to your special meeting place and wait for the fire department to arrive (ensures everyone is out when fire department arrives).

  • Never re-enter the building for any reason

Public Buildings

  • When going into a public building look for the closest exit signs other than the one where you entered (i.e. in a movie theatre the exits are on each side of the screen)

  • Always go out the nearest safe exit

  • Move quickly but safely, staying under any smoke

  • Forget valuables, once outside - stay outside

  • Have a prearranged meeting place

  • Dial 9-1-1 for all emergencies (Police, Fire, Ambulance)


ADOPT-A-SCHOOL FIRE FIGHTER

"Do you kids think that fire fighters go into burning buildings in plain clothes? Fire Fighters wear special clothes that keep them cool and from getting burned. All the fire fighters' special clothes are fire resistant. "

Don your turnout gear with SCBA. Demonstrate to the students that you are still the same person.

Helmet: it is hard, has a brim to protect their neck and has a face shield to protect their face

Boots: they have a steel sole and toe, to protect their feet and ankles

Pants: they are strong, easy to get into, and protect their legs

Coat: three in one: rubber lining, cloth quilt (like a sweater), and special outer cloth with bright tape

Gloves: these protect their hands from cuts and burns

Breathing Tank and Air Mask: Poisonous gases will hurt them, so they must pack their own safe, clean, breathable air

All of this equipment helps protect us when we fight building fires and make rescues. It weighs between 60-70 lbs., and can be very uncomfortable, but without it we could get very hurt.

Questions and Answers

1. What do we need to make a fire?
Heat, fuel, and oxygen

2. What three things should you tell the emergency dispatcher when reporting a fire?
Your full name
Address of the fire and the nearest cross street
Phone number where you are calling

3. What do mom or dad do for a cooking fire?
Put a lid on it
Turn the heat off
Call 9-1-1, if the fire doesn't go out right away

4. Where should smokers' materials (ashes, cigarette butts) be disposed?
A waste container with a tight lid or the toilet

5. What makes a safe ashtray?
Won't tip over
Won't burn
An unattended cigarette won't fall out of it

6. How many of you have home escape plans and practice them?
Hopefully all, if not you initiate

7. How many of you have smoke detectors in your house?
Hopefully all, if not buy one for mom or dad as a birthday or Christmas gift

8. When escaping from a burning building should you take anything with you?
NO! Objects can be replaced, people cannot! Your main concern should be for you to GET OUT. Your pets are smart, and will find their own way out.

9. What should you look for when you go into any public building?
All exit signs that are near you

10. Why shouldn't you walk on an extension cord?
Walking on the cord breaks down the fibers inside the cord, which causes electrical arching.