We went to the Fire station on a field trip,
just like last year. I think its really great to go meet the firemen and learn about fire safety. The kids really liked it. First we talked with Fireman Jake- he asked the kids different safety questions. What to do if your clothes are on fire (stop, drop, and roll- and cover your face with your hands) Then he asked if the kids have fire drills at home. And what they would do if their house was on fire. He also reminded the kids to have their parents check the smoke detector to make sure it didn't need new batteries.
We went with Fireman Chard outside to look at the fire truck. All the kids got to sit in it and look really cool.
Our firemen are city employees, not volunteer, and they live at the station during their shift (72 hours, I think) So they have all these cool things to keep them entertained. They have to exercise- cause being a fireman requires some heavy lifting and lots of physical activity. The kids did some pull-ups and push-ups, just like a fireman.
They have this room in the basement of the Station that they call the gerbil habitat. They can rearrange the different elements to create new mazes. It has tubes, stairs, ladders, wires, chains, and walls. The firemen use it to practice. They turn off the lights and go in there when its pitch dark (cause smoke makes houses dark) When they go through the tubes, they can't fit with all their gear on, so they have to take off their oxygen tanks and push it in front of them.
This is the inside of an ambulance. It's a lot roomier than I thought. Sometimes they have to have a lot of people in there working to keep one person alive.
Then one of the kids tried on the fireman's clothes. They are heavy! I tried on just the hat and it weighs about 5 pounds.
Firemen have to put on boots, pants, a coat, a hood, a mask and a helmet. They put on gloves too so all their skin is covered.
Here's Chard (one of the kid's dad- and an actual fireman) putting on all his gear. The firemen really like when the kids come in and see them because they don't want the kids to be afraid of them. They want the kids to see who's under all that stuff so they won't hide if there is an actual fire.
Chard talked to the kids through his mask and showed them how he crawls around during a fire
Then he showed the kids what he would do if he found someone in a burning building. He would pick them up, throw them over his shoulder and run out of the building as fast as he could. Chard is using his son Jake to demonstrate this.
Last year Jayne was freaked out when Chard put all his gear on, this year she was in awe. She thought Chard was really cool and wanted to sit on his lap. I'm glad she's not afraid anymore. Hopefully our house doesn't burn down, but we know what to do if it does catch fire. Max was a little scared. He had this nervous laugh/cry thing going on.
Jayne really liked wearing the helmet
At this fire station, the living quarters are above the garage. It's the only station in town with an actual fire pole. Here's Chard demonstrating it.
And the firemen are off to save the day! (or taking the truck back to the other station) When we got there the truck was gone, this station has a yellow truck. But some of the guys from the other station brought the red truck over.
Go schedule a field trip with your city's fire station today! Totally awesome.
