Owensboro Students Get Hands-On Fire Training
By: Zakk Gammon
Updated: October 3, 2012
It's a situation no parent wants to find themselves in: kids being stuck in a room during a fire. But some Owensboro Catholic second graders are getting some help, thanks to the Owensboro Fire Department.
Teachers stood by as one by one, all the kids were rescued.
"The kids enjoy it. The teachers do too. We have a lot of fun, but we're still learning, and I think it's important," said second-grade teacher Theresa McCarty. She says says experiences like this are important for students, because they learn it first-hand, not through a book. "Although it's not a type of dangerous smoke, the kids get to learn what that's like, and what it's like to climb out a window. And they get to hold that hose and feel how powerful it is and what it can do."
"What we're trying to do is teach the kids something they can go home and practice with their family," said OFD Battalion Chief Steve Leonard. "They can learn exit drills in the home. Fire doesn't discriminate. It doesn't matter if you're 9-months-old or 90-years-old. You need to be prepared to escape a fire."
And while it's something parents don't want to think about, firefighters say it's better to be safe than sorry.
"It's not something that we every imagine could happen, but it can. It is possible," said McCarty.
Firefighters say one of the biggest challenges they face when battling a blaze is that in a lot of cases, the kids are actually scared of them. Couple that with the danger already present by the fire, and it could lead to deadly consequences. The goal of this exercise is to teach the kids to trust officials, hopefully helping them save lives.
Teachers stood by as one by one, all the kids were rescued.
"The kids enjoy it. The teachers do too. We have a lot of fun, but we're still learning, and I think it's important," said second-grade teacher Theresa McCarty. She says says experiences like this are important for students, because they learn it first-hand, not through a book. "Although it's not a type of dangerous smoke, the kids get to learn what that's like, and what it's like to climb out a window. And they get to hold that hose and feel how powerful it is and what it can do."
"What we're trying to do is teach the kids something they can go home and practice with their family," said OFD Battalion Chief Steve Leonard. "They can learn exit drills in the home. Fire doesn't discriminate. It doesn't matter if you're 9-months-old or 90-years-old. You need to be prepared to escape a fire."
And while it's something parents don't want to think about, firefighters say it's better to be safe than sorry.
"It's not something that we every imagine could happen, but it can. It is possible," said McCarty.
Firefighters say one of the biggest challenges they face when battling a blaze is that in a lot of cases, the kids are actually scared of them. Couple that with the danger already present by the fire, and it could lead to deadly consequences. The goal of this exercise is to teach the kids to trust officials, hopefully helping them save lives.
