Fire Prevention Bureau
BY TOM KIURSKI
All children dream of be-coming firefighters at some point in their lives. Who knows what sparks their interest? Maybe it`s seeing the flashing lights, the shiny apparatus, or a brave firefighter battling the flames to save a neighbor`s home. Most children outgrow this fantasy, but many do not and go on to become firefighters.
To help children better understand the life of a firefighter, Livonia (MI) Fire & Rescue firefighters teamed up with Schoolcraft College to present the “Fire Academy for Kids” summer class as one of the electives of the college`s “Kids on Campus” summer program. The program is open to children between the ages of eight and 13.
THE PROGRAM
The Academy program consists of two-hour sessions that run on four consecutive days.
Day 1. The first day of class starts off with the presentation of some popular Hollywood movies that depict fires. After viewing the movies, we explain how the movie fire scenes were made. The fire scenes are then shown again so that the students can see the effects of Hollywood illusion. A video of a real fire is shown immediately after the movie depictions; the differences between the real-life fire and the Hollywood-made fires are made apparent in dramatic fashion.
A firefighter`s typical day at the fire station is then outlined.
Next, the students are shown the complete set of firefighter personal protective equipment, including SCBA. Each piece is described as it is donned. After the demon-stration, the students are given a chance to handle the equipment.
Day 2. A number of hazards commonly found in the home are presented. This generally starts a discussion of the home escape plan and the importance of having such a plan. A sample plan is drawn on the blackboard at the front of the classroom; students are assigned to create an es-cape plan for their home.
Day 3. Fire safety away from home and first aid are the topics for this session. We tour the college and learn about fire exits, fire extinguishers, smoke and heat detectors, fire pull stations, and sprinkler systems. These systems are described in more detail when we return to class. The students are shown how they can use this information to help them exit a building in case of an alarm. The remainder of the class covers how to recognize and properly treat common medical emergencies.
Day 4. The children anticipate this day all week. This is the day they meet at the fire station, where they are given a tour and a demonstration of the apparatus. They get a chance to walk through our fire training tower and to observe a training rescue drill. They then take over for a hydrant hookup and hoseline stretch. The highlight of the day is handling the hoselines. All get a chance to handle the nozzle and have a tough time keeping dry.
Many fire departments have similar programs; some are much more extensive than this one. If your department does not have a similar program, it is not difficult to implement; it doesn`t require much time or effort. You may choose to hook up with a college, as we did, or do it on your own. Either way, if you`re not doing it, give it some thought. Many children are awaiting your answer.
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(Left) Students “hook up” to a hydrant. (Below) Handling the hoseline is among the most popular activities of the program. (Photos by author.)
Boy Scouts of America “Merit Badge Day”
By Tom Kiurski–The orange fingers of the flames licked at the afternoon sky. A column of thick, black smoke rose up into the blue background as if a dark finger were pointing down to the inferno below. Suddenly, an explosion of activity jumped from the nozzle of the fire extinguisher. Within seconds, the burning flammable liquid fire was controlled and extinguished by U someone in green socks?
This scenario took place time and time again on August 24, 1998, during the first annual Livonia Fire & Rescue firefighters Boy Scouts of America “Merit Badge Day.”
Livonia firefighters get numerous requests to put on merit badge classes for “Fire Safety” and “Emergency Preparedness” from area Boy Scouts. We have held many of these classes at the school or church at which the Scouts normally meet or at the fire station with on-duty crews. As happens in all fire stations, sometimes the on-duty crews had to interrupt the program to leave on a call, which left the Scouts without an instructor.
Our department has several merit badge counselors. As a result of a meeting held to discuss ways to improve program delivery, the idea to hold a Merit Badge Day was born. The objectives were to combine our efforts into this one-day program, which would be given at our fire headquarters, where the Scouts could also see the apparatus; have some fun; and, at the same time, earn a merit badge in fire safety or emergency preparedness.
Hours of preparation, making contacts, and attending meetings went into arranging for the event. Representatives from the Boy Scouts stepped forward to handle all Scouting paperwork and contacts, allowing us to put all our efforts into planning the program itself.
THE PROGRAM
Opening ceremonies were held at 9 a.m. on August 24, 1998. Mayor Jack Kirksey welcomed the 68 Scouts who attended.
The program consisted of the following segments:
The viewing of movies depicting Hollywood-made fires and their illusionary out-of-control fires and of a short video of a real fire gave the Scouts an eye-opening view of what fire is really like.
A discussion of a home fire safety inspection. The students were assigned to complete at home with their family members one of our home fire inspection sheets and to return it to us.
During the first break, the children were given a tour of the fire engine and were permitted to squirt water from a fire hose under pressure, resulting in a few damp Scouts with big smiles.
After the break, the class was split up into two groups: those wanting to earn the merit badge in fire safety and those who wanted the emergency preparedness badge.
Lunch of pizza, soda, and cookies was served.
After touring the rest of the fire station and apparatus, the Scouts were given additional training in their chosen subjects and assigned homework that had to be turned in before their merit badge sheets would be signed.
Additional homework for the Emergency Preparedness merit badge included preparing a first aid and emergency preparedness kit. Students earning the Fire Safety merit badge were given various safety-related assignments such as recognizing safety devices in the car and home and completing several activities under parental supervision, such as fueling a lawnmower, helping with a barbecue, and inspecting and testing smoke detectors.
The media covered the event. A post-program meeting led to many ideas for improving the efficiency of the next program. Judging from the comments we received from the Scouts and their parents on the homework assignments, the program was well received. Even though we didn`t expect quite as many Scouts as attended, we believe we delivered a high-quality program that was entertaining as well as educational. n
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(Top) Scouts anxiously await their turn to “inspect” the apparatus. (Bottom) Learning to use the fire extinguisher properly is one of the skills taught in the fire safety program. (Photos by author.)
TOM KIURSKI is a firefighter and the director of fire safety education for Livonia (MI) Fire & Rescue.
