In the next week or so, many Great Bend children will have some homework and will need their parents to lend a hand with it.
The Great Bend Fire Department will observe National Fire Prevention Week, which actually goes on for more than seven days. This year’s theme is “Have two ways out,” as in, everyone should know two (or more) ways out of their home. If a fire occurs, one way just might be blocked. The homework assignment is to draw a home floor plan and show the possible emergency exits. Another part of the assignment is to choose a place where everyone will meet once they exit the house.
Finishing this assignment optional – no one’s going to be graded on it – but there’s a free Frosty from Wendy’s at stake for every student who turns it in. Actually, there’s much more at stake, since doing this simple exercise could save a life.
The kids will be learning much more during Fire Prevention Week. As recent events show, even preschoolers need to know something about fire safety. A 4-year-old boy who discovered he didn’t know how to make ramen noodles without help did know to wake up his mother after starting a fire in the kitchen. She knew to get everyone together and safely out of the house, and to call 911.
Another recent fire involved a couple of teenagers playing with matches. Firefighters don’t bring their lessons to older students, but people of all ages need to remember some common sense guidelines. Know two routes to safety from your workplace, for example, and even if you don’t have children with homework from the fire department, have two ways out of your home.
This week, make sure all smoke detectors in your home have batteries, and be careful with those matches.