As the kid standing on the curb watching the fire truck go by I thought firemen were a bunch of guys who got to ride in a cool noisy, flashy truck and put on funny clothes and go squirt water on the fire. Now, since I have begun my career as a volunteer firefighter my education has just started. I have learned about the nature of the beast (fire science), personal protective equipment (funny clothes & mask), fire apparatus (cool flashy, noisy truck), city & rural water supply, fire streams, rescue operations, fire suppression, first aid, hazardous materials, team work, leadership, and the list keeps going on and on and growing and growing. The more I learn about the fire service, the more I find out I don't know. Knowledge and experience are some of the firefighter's best tools on the job. As I gained knowledge and experience in the fire service I learned the best way to put out a fire is to try and stop it before it happens.
Yes it is true, the firefighter is one of the only professions in the world that tries to put themselves out of a job. Fire Prevention is one of our most important jobs as firefighters and we try to put a lot of effort towards educating the public, kids and adults alike on Fire Prevention. Don't get me wrong we love our jobs as firefighters and we train hard for every aspect of our jobs, but if we can prevent a serious property loss such as a house fire or the unspeakable loss of life in a fire, we're going to make every effort to do so.
The feedback we receive from the school kids and their parents after Fire Prevention Week is always encouraging. If we can save one life with our fire prevention programs all the effort put forth so far is worth it. You can't put a price tag on human life. Fire prevention and safety in the home is just like every thing else in life, it is mostly some applied common sense and some routine checks in your home.
Roger Close
Captain Co. C, Training Officer
Spearman Volunteer Fire Department
Install
and Maintain Smoke Detectors: The killer in a house fire is smoke. Carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide, and many other deadly gases are all normal by-products
of a fire in your home. Smoke detectors warn you of the deadly smoke and fire in
time to let you escape. Install smoke detectors on each level of your home and
outside of each sleeping area. Follow the manufacturer's directions, and test
the batteries once a week. Replace the batteries twice a year, once each time
the time changes. (daylight savings, standard time) October 26th. is the next time
change, remember your smoke detector batteries. Smoke detectors save lives.
Cool a Burn: If someone gets burned, immediately place
the wound in cool water for 10 to 15 minutes to ease the pain. Do not use butter
on a burn, as this could prolong the heat and further damage the skin. If the
burn blisters or chars, see a doctor immediately.
Plan and Practice Your Escape: If a fire breaks out in
your home, you must get out fast. With your family plan two ways out of every
room. Choose a meeting place outside where everyone should gather. Once you're
out, stay out. Don't go back inside. Have the whole family practice
the escape plan at least twice a year.
Keep
a Fire Extinguisher at Home and Learn How to Use it: Fire extinguishers are
cheap insurance. Be sure to get an extinguisher rated for Class A, B, & C
fires to cover all bases. Class A fires are wood, paper, cloth. Class B fires
are oil, grease, diesel, gasoline. Class C fires are electrical fires. A house
fire can go from a small controllable flame to fully involved in fire in 5
minutes or less. A timely dose from an extinguisher could make all the
difference. Keep an extinguisher in your kitchen, basement, garage, and
automobile. Check them monthly.