Capt. Eric Yoder  thinks his work clothes could make a pretty good Halloween costume. Dressed in full fire fighting gear, including mask and breathing equipment, he sounds like Darth Vader and may kind of look like him, too. But Yoder wanted kindergartners at Park Elementary School to see there’s nothing to be afraid of. Yoder wants children to know that if they see a fireman reaching for them in a smoke-filled room, he’s there to help.
Once again, the Great Bend Fire Department is visiting schools for Fire Prevention Week. They started last Friday and will visit every elementary school in town, as well as many preschools, by the end of next week.
Firefighter Matt Petersen showed the boys and girls a smoke detector. This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is “Working smoke alarms save lives,” and residents are reminded to change the batteries in alarms once a year, and test the alarms once a month.
“How many of you don’t have one on these in your home?” he asked.
Most of the hands shot up.
“How many of you have one of these in your home?”
The hands shot up again.
Kindergartners will raise their hands at virtually any opportunity, it seems. But they also showed they already know a lot about fire safety and what to do in an emergency. If there’s a fire they know to call 911. If they want a pizza delivered they know not to call 911.
If their clothes are ever on fire, most kindergartners can shout out the three things to do: “Stop! Drop! and Roll!”
Everyone should know two ways out of their house, and in case of fire they should get out and go to a designated meeting place. Once out, they should never go back inside to rescue a favorite toy or even a pet.
Toys can be replaced, Petersen said. “You guys aren’t replaceable.”