Thank you to the Blauvelt, Tappan and Sparkill-Palisades fire department volunteers for visiting our elementary schools today to teach our students about fire prevention!
The theme of National Fire Prevention Week 2021 (October 3-9) is “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety!” The campaign aims to educate children on the different sounds that smoke (beeping) and carbon monoxide (chirping) alarms make and what action to take to stay safe. Free resources are posted on the National Fire Protection Association website.
Firefighters shared practical tips about what to do in case of a fire, how to operate a fire extinguisher and making sure that they have a family fire emergency plan. They also suited up in firefighting gear to show students how rescuers may look and sound in the event of a fire and demonstrated some of the equipment they use for low-visibility environments and for vehicle rescues. Two key takeaways in case of fire: 1) Make lots of noise so that firefighters can find you, and 2) Don’t stay in the house searching for pets; firefighters will rescue them.
“Every year, our local fire departments share their expertise by teaching our students about fire safety. We are grateful for their dedication and service to our community,” said WOS Assistant Principal Brian Galvin.
Families are encouraged to reach out to their local fire departments if they need help with creating a fire emergency plan and every household should have a working smoke alarm. The Rockland County Health Department’s Healthy Neighborhood Program can provide and install free smoke alarms to eligible residents, including seniors and low-to-modest income and at-risk families. A brief home survey is required at the time of the visit. For more information, call the Healthy Neighborhood Program at (845) 364-3290 or (845) 364-3292.
