Lakeside Fire Department ”makes a splash”

safety suit worn by firemen

The Lakeside Fire Department” Made a Splash” in a big way during their presentation at the Library’s Summer Reading Program on August 18.  A highlight of the program was when each participant got to hold and spray the fire hose (with help) at a target.

Clark Anderson, Division Chief and responsible for fire prevention, spoke to the children.  He stressed the need for each family to have an escape plan in case of fire, checking smoke detectors , and other  safety measures such as “stop, drop, and roll,” never going back into a burning building, crawling on the floor to avoid smoke, putting a towel under the crack of a door to prevent smoke from entering, etc.

He was assisted by firemen Bob, Zach, Tom, Cody, and the Junior Fire Prevention officer (and son) Brylee.  Brylee demonstrated some of the procedures for safety, and the others demonstrated equipment.

There are three firemen who sleep at the station and are the first responders to a fire or medical emergency.

It takes about one minute for a fireman to get into his suit which is worn at each fire because of the carcinogens that might be present.  A beeper goes off when a fireman is not moving.  An oxygen tank lasts about 30 minutes.

Anderson and crew took the children out to see the fire truck.  It was very impressive to see how all the necessary equipment is stored.  There are chaps and helmets in case a chain saw is needed to cut through a burning building, foam with chemicals to put out certain types of fires, a huge port a tank which can hold up to two tanks of water in case water has to be transported, hoses with strainers that do not let anything over ¼ inch through; ground monitors which adjust the amount of water pumped, and of course fire nozzles which can be adjusted from spraying a stream of water to a fog of water.

Now that's fun!

After spraying the fire hose, the children learned about the Fire and Rescue Truck.  Since Lakeside does not have an ambulance, the firemen are the first to respond to a medical emergency.  The children viewed the equipment including a trauma kit, a spine collar to prevent neck injuries, blood pressure kit, etc.  They also learned the procedures used to treat a person until the firemen arrive.

October is Fire Prevention Month.  There will be an open house at the fire station and there will be valuable information shared.  Watch for more details from the Fire Department.

Submitted by: Sue Groen, children library instructor