By Rita Hutchinson
Every year fire kills more children than any other home accident. Children playing with fire are a common cause of fire in the home. It is important to share these basic rules for fire safety with your children:
- Don’t climb on or reach over the stove for something. Children should stay away from the stove area when it is cooking time.
- Don’t play with matches or lighters. All matches and lighters should be stored up high and out of children’s reach.
- Don’t play with electrical wires or outlets. Keep appliances and other electrical equipment out of reach. Keep unused outlets covered. This is especially important for very young children.
- Don’t get close to an open fire. Always supervise outdoor fires or fire in the fireplace, and keep lighted candles away from children.
- Here are some other pointers:
- Teach your child what hot is by letting them touch something hot — but not hot enough to burn them. Then the word “hot” will have meaning for them.
- Teach your child how to call for help if he/she sees fire or smoke in the house. Teach them how to get out of the house. Have a plan and practice the plan regularly. Check your smoke detectors.
- Teach your child the difference between a good fire (like a supervised campfire) and a bad fire (like a fire in a trash can or a building). Teach them how fires start and how fast a very small fire can become a large fire.
Other Fire Department News:
Effective Aug. 17, the Rainier Station, located at 12506 133rd Ave., in Rainier, became our second staffed fire station. The fire station located at Lawrence Lake remains open and will accommodate volunteer responders when they are available.
Our goal is to continue to improve emergency service to all of our citizens.
The 2009 S.E. Thurston Fire Recruit Academy begins Saturday, Aug. 29.
We have seven new volunteers in this class. They will attend class two evenings a week with three weekends for practical skills. Recruits are expected to attend all classes and skills weekends. They are also expected to attain an 80 percent or better on all written tests.
At the end of the Recruit Academy, they will participate in the Firefighter I Certification test. Graduation for successful recruits is being planned for early December.
Read it here: http://www.yelmonline.com/opinion/editorial/article_f1cce244-391a-5c4c-a370-8156ec11b0a1.html