Education leads to fire prevention

By SUSAN WALIGUNDA WADE
Posted 10/18/22

ELDRED, NY — The students of George Ross Mackenzie Elementary School capped off a week of fire prevention education with a visit by local fire departments to reinforce what they had learned in …

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Education leads to fire prevention

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ELDRED, NY — The students of George Ross Mackenzie Elementary School capped off a week of fire prevention education with a visit by local fire departments to reinforce what they had learned in the classroom throughout the week.

Each class from pre-K through sixth grade visited with members of the Highland Lake, Lumberland and Yulan fire departments, which brought their trucks and equipment on a sunny October Friday afternoon for an on-site inspection in the school parking lot. The firefighters and emergency management technicians spoke with the students, asked and answered questions, explained firefighting procedures, and reinforced safety concepts such as wearing life vests while on the water.

Equipment of particular interest was the ladders, helmets, fire extinguishers, life vests and, of course, the rescue boat. When asked what the ladders would be used for, a student proclaimed “To get cats out of trees.”

Also of interest was the array of saws carried on the trucks. When asked what the different saws were for, the students learned that one was for normal cutting of brush and firewood, another had a special blade on it to cut metal and concrete, and a third was used to cut through roof shingles.  

One young man, four years of age, asked about getting a ride in the fire truck. He was told that these were rescue vehicles and not for joy-riding, but he was encouraged to join the fire department when he comes of age, and he would then have the opportunity to take many rides.

Several students proudly raised their hands when asked if any members of their families were firefighters.

Principal Michael Carpentieri said that the curriculum addressing fire prevention focuses on what the students should be looking at within their homes, particularly having smoke and CO detectors in place, and establishing an emergency evacuation plan. He appreciated the firefighters and EMTs coming to reinforce what the teachers have taught throughout the week.

“This is a community that is built on volunteers,” Carpentieri noted. “Some of the school staff are members of the Lumberland and Highland Lake Fire Departments. In addition to the educational aspects, this up-close-and-personal interaction reinforces that the children are part of this community too, and it instills pride and a sense of commitment to their neighbors.”  

Joe Mellan, president and decades-long member of the Highland Lake Fire Department, has often said that implanting fire-prevention knowledge into young minds is equally important as fighting fires.

George Ross Mackenzie Elementary School, fire department, education

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