Kids Learn Life-Saving Lessons at Fire Safety Day

Jeff Koslowsky, Captain of Scarsdale Volunteer Fire Company 3 and Volunteer Lieutenant Charlie Swift were just two of the many volunteer and career firefighters who visited Scarsdale elementary schools on Friday October 18 to educate children about fire safety. As they have over years past, the local Scarsdale Volunteer Firefighters, spent the day visiting our local Elementary Schools first grade classes to teach the ABCs of fire safety. Over 375 children participated in the program. This years' theme was preventing kitchen fires. Children got to interact with the firefighters, watch Sparky TV videos, check out one of the town's Fire Engines, and bring home their fire safety checklist to share with their family at home.

See these photos of the events at Heathcote and Quaker Ridge elementary schools taken by Jon Thaler, and view more of his photos at www.jonthaler.com.

At Edgewood School Scarsdale firefighters Lou Mancini, Jeff Goodwin, Mark Bezos, Michael Apcar, James Marinello and Jeremy Stemple visited first graders and taught them about fire safety. Here are some of the key facts they shared about fire safety:

• If the fire alarm goes off in the house, the children were told to move away from the area of the alarm and find an adult.
• If there is actually a fire, the children learned that they need to get out of the house as quickly as possible.
• Each family should determine a meeting place outside the house where they can find each other and call 911 in the event of a fire.

After showing the first graders how to stop, drop, and roll, firefighters showed a video called "Sparky's Kitchen Rules" that outlined four rules for kitchen safety:
stay at least three feet from the stove;

• Do not use a microwave unless a grown up gives you permission;
• Open containers with hot food slowly and keep them away from your face
• If you do get a burn, put it under cool water and find an adult right away.

After the video, one of the firefighters crawled into the room in all of his gear and the children learned about the clothes worn by firefighters and the equipment they use. Finally, the children went outside and saw Engine 54, a pumper engine. They learned about the parts of the fire truck, including the jaws of life and the hoses. With the help of first-grade teacher, Mrs. Lamonaca, the firefighters sprayed water from the fire hose and the deck gun on top of the truck. The children asked many questions and seemed eager to attend the Fire Fair at the Crossway firehouse on October 19th.

(thank you to Edgewood correspondent Maura Lee and photographer Jon Thaler)