Today all of the first grade classes were able to take a walking field trip to the Hamilton Fire Station! We were met there by a 'firefighting family'! Our own Mrs. Heuer, a paraprofessional in our building, and her husband, Lieutenant Rob Heuer, and her two sons, firefighter Corey Heuer, and paramedic Nathan Heuer were kind enough to invite us into the fire station for a tour!
We began by reviewing many fire safety rules to help keep us safe. The kids knew a lot of these already, but it is great to take the time to review and discuss them often. Here are some of the safety rules discussed today:
1. Plan and practice home fire drills.
2. Know TWO ways out of every room in your home.
3. Test your smoke detectors yearly, and if you do not have one, let your child's teacher know and they will get one for your home from the fire department!
4. Never pick up or play with matches or lighters.
5. When you hear the smoke alarm, GET OUT! Feel your door with the back of your hand. If it is hot, find another way out.
6. NEVER hide from a firefighter! They are there to help get you out!
7. Once outside, call 911 from a neighbor's house. Know your house number and street name!
8. Never go back inside a burning building.
9. Plan a family meeting place and meet your family there.
10. If your clothes catch on fire... STOP running, DROP to the ground, and ROLL until the fire is out.
Lieutenant Heuer invited our own Wesley up to demonstrate how to Stop, Drop and Roll...
A mystery firefighter came out in full turnout gear to show us what a fire fighter looks like and sounds like! The kids were surprised and excited to find out it was our own Mrs. Heuer!
Firefighter Corey Heuer showed the kids the parts of the turnout gear and how it keeps firefighters safe when they are fighting a fire. Did you know that house fires can get as hot as 600 degrees??
Paramedic Nathan Heuer showed us the tank and what it is used for. He demonstrated that an alarm will go off if the firefighter gets low on air, or if he is 'down' for too long in a fire. The alarm was very loud, which is good so that a firefighter can be found and helped if needed.
Next we got to see some tools such as the jaws of life, and very large cutting tool, and we got to see the inside of the trucks and what is kept in them.
Did you know that our fire department has several different vehicles at their disposal? In addition to the emergency vehicle and 3 pumper trucks, they have jeeps for use in woods, trucks that respond to medical emergencies, and even a boat for river and lake emergencies.
Each student was given a coloring book, a sticker badge, and a window sticker to be placed on their bedroom window to signal a child's bedroom for firefighters.
We had a nice visit to our very own Hamilton Fire Station! We thank the Heuer family for their time today. Next week is National Fire Prevention Week, and we will be learning more about how to stay safe or what to do if/when there is a fire!
And of course... the FUNNY ONE!
