fire safety in mid-October

We are well underway in our first big area of study this year... Fire Safety. Fire is fascinating to all humankind, and it is good to build a healthy respect for its goodness and its dangers. We have discussed both, comparing and contrasting various examples.

This week, we concentrated on what to do if your clothes catch on fire. The children have demonstrated their knowledge of "stop, drop and roll," and can explain that doing so will prevent the fire from getting air to burn. We have also discussed that the ONLY time it is o.k. to push someone down is if there is a dangerous situation... such as a friend's clothing catching on fire.

We have also talked about how and why to call 911. We practiced on a dead phone, which you may want to review with them. The children know that the 911 number is only for emergencies, and once you call, you don't hang up unless the operator tells you to do so. We are still hoping that my friend who works at Seattle 911 will be able to come in and speak to the children as positive reinforcement.

To seque from yesterday's school fire drill, next week we will talk about smoke detectors, fire alarms and making a plan to meet in a safe place. This would be an excellent opportunity to walk through the house with your child and check the smoke alarms, changing batteries and practicing your own "family fire drill." Then we can all hope that none of us will ever need to put our practice to the test!