Volunteers spend day teaching kids fire safety
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POLSON – Volunteer firefighters spent their mornings this week showing elementary school kids how to get safe in a house fire.
Polson City Rural Fire Department President Matt Sisler, his wife and firefighter, Julie and fellow firefighter Tayler Hayes spent the morning, first at Cherry Valley Elementary School and then at Linderman Elementary School in Polson to remind kids what to do in case of fire.
The group, who were decked out in full uniforms and positioned in front of a Polson fire truck were on scene to help celebrate National Fire Prevention Week, held nationally each year between Oct. 5 through 11.
One by one, each grade of children lined up in front of the truck to learn what a fire alarm looks like, sounds like and warns the family about.
“We want to teach them to check their smoke detectors, how to locate the fire alarm and how to test it,” Matt Sisler said. “We want them to know what to do in case the smoke alarm goes off which is to get out and stay out. We teach them to make noise, kick walls, scream, throw toys out their window.”
In addition Matt Sisler said it was important for kids to know what is coming to save them.
“We want to acclimate them to firefighters. We want them to know who their rescuers are. Familiarity reduces fear,” he said.
The children were talkative, interested and shooting their hands into the air when asked a question; especially after Matt Sisler started handing out plastic fire helmets.
After each student got a fire helmet they climbed into the fire truck’s cockpit to see first-hand what its like to drive or ride in one of the big red fire extinguishing machines.
Once through the short presentation, each child was given a fire-safety coloring book to take home and share in the future.