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Hilltop students learn fire safety from the pros
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.A second-grade student at Hilltop Elementary School demonstrated stop, drop and roll for his classmates during a fire safety presentation at the school as Canfield Fire Department Deputy Chief Matt Rarick looked on Oct. 17.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Third-grade students at Hilltop Elementary School received a tour of a Canfield Fire Department truck from Firefighter/E.M.T. Joe Morell in honor of Fire Prevention Month on Oct. 17.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Canfield Fire Department Firefighter and Paramedic Conner O’Halloran (kneeling) showed second-grade students at Hilltop Elementary School what a firefighter looks like in full gear during a fire safety presentation at the school Oct. 17.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Canfield Fire Department Deputy Chief Matt Rarick explained fire safety to second-grade students at Hilltop Elementary School in recognition of Fire Prevention Month Oct. 17.
By ABBY SLANKER
In celebration of Fire Prevention Month, the Canfield Fire Department joined students at Hilltop Elementary School to educate them on fire safety. Deputy Chief Matt Rarick, Firefighter and Paramedic Conner O’Halloran and Firefighter/E.M.T. Joe Morell took turns talking to the students.
Rarick gathered the students in the lobby of the school for his presentation. He discussed how and when to call 911 and designating an emergency meeting spot.
“Each of your families needs to pick a spot outside your home where you can meet in case there’s a fire. I know many of you have one, so for the ones who don’t, I am going to give you some homework. Go home tonight and tell your parents you have to pick an emergency meeting spot,” Rarick said.
Rarick then went on to ask the students if they could tell him if they have smoke detectors in their homes. Several said they do have them, and the others were given more homework to tell their parents to get some smoke detectors.
“Tell your parents to call us if you need smoke detectors and we will get them for you,” Rarick said. “A smoke detector is like a big nose. It sniffs for the smell of smoke. The detector sniffs 24 hours a day. Even on Saturdays and Sundays when you are off from school. The smoke detector doesn’t get any days off or any vacations. Even while you are sleeping, the smoke detector is working,” Rarick told the students.
Rarick also instructed the students how to feel the doorknob to see if it is safe to open a door during a fire.
“If you feel the doorknob and it is hot, that means there is fire on the other side of the door. What you need to do then is get low to the floor by the door and make lots of noise so the firefighters can hear you when we get there. It is very important not to hide. We need to know where you are so we can help you,” Rarick said.
O’Halloran then showed the students how the firefighters put on all their equipment they use when fighting a fire. When he was in full gear, he went around the children collecting high fives to show them he was still the same firefighter, even though he was covered in protective clothing.
“We may look different when we come to your house to help you, but it is still us, the firefighters talking to you today,” Rarick said.
Rarick then talked to the students about crawling and stop, drop and roll and asked two students to help him demonstrate and stress the importance of both.
After Rarick’s presentation, the children were invited outside to the waiting Canfield Fire Department fire truck, where Joe Morell explained what equipment the firefighters carry on the truck. He led the students around the entire truck, explaining what each piece of equipment was for and what purpose it served.
“The Canfield Fire Department goes to each elementary school and preschool during Fire Prevention Month to educate the children about fire safety,” said Rarick.
The firefighters also brought plastic fire helmets, coloring books and stickers for the children to take home as a reminder of fire safety and fire prevention.