Decatur Northside Elementary students learn about fire safety

Fireman Matt Green explained the many knobs, dials and hoses on Gravette’s newly acquired pumper truck.
Fireman Matt Green explained the many knobs, dials and hoses on Gravette’s newly acquired pumper truck.

— Students at Decatur Northside Elementary School learned about fire safety when fire trucks, a smoke trailer, ambulance and an Air Evac helicopter visited the school for National Fire Safety Week on Friday.

Students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade participated in the event organized by the Decatur Fire Department.

Students first visited a smoke trailer on loan from the Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where Decatur firefighters talkedto them about the importance of fire safety around the house, such as smoke detectors and keeping pot handles turned the right way on the stove, how

Students also toured the Gravette ambulance and Air Evac helicopters and learned about the medical equipment on board before visiting Gentry’s ladder truck, with its 100-foot ladder fully extended.

Decatur Fire Chief David Flyntsaid he was very pleased that Air Evac could attend the annual event this year. Touring the helicopter and watching it land and take off is a special treat for children and veteran firefighters alike, he said.

to “stop, drop and roll” and how to safely exit a burning house and meet up with family at a pre-designated safe place outside.

Then students learned about the equipment on Decatur's pumper truck and got a chance to see what a firefighter looks and sounds like in full turnout gear.

Elementary school principal Leslie Sharp said that students really look forward to learning about fire safety each year. The annual event not only ingrains safety lessons in the children, but also helps them develop a good relationship with emergency personnel like firefighters and police.

“Having them come to the school is fabulous, I really appreciate it,” she said.

National Fire Safety Week, sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association, is held from Oct. 9-15. This year's theme is: "Protect Your Family From Fire."

School News, Pages 12 on 10/18/2011