Springfield Fire Department to visit 10,000 children during Fire Prevention Month

(From the Springfield Fire Department)

October is Fire Prevention Month. The Springfield Fire Department will once again use the designation as an opportunity to educate Springfield citizens about fire safety. In cooperation with Springfield Public Schools and several private schools, firefighters plan to visit every Pre-K through 5th grade classroom in Springfield, making it the largest educational campaign yet for the Department. Fire Department Educators will provide two age-appropriate lessons to each classroom to ensure students are getting the best possible information.

"By the time October is over, we will have provided more than 10,000 children with life saving fire safety information," said Cara Erwin, Fire and Life Safety Educator. "This is information they will carry with them for a lifetime as we work to reduce our fire rate here in Springfield."

This year, the Department will focus on encouraging residents to have easy access to two ways out of every room in their home in case of a fire. Springfield’s fire death rate is more than triple of that in the United States. Many times, blocked exits or excess clutter make it more difficult for occupants to escape a fire. In hopes of reversing this trend, the Springfield Fire Department will promote the National Fire Protection Association’s theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Month – "Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out." This simple statement emphasizes the importance of having and practicing a fire escape plan.

The Springfield Fire Department will also continue to encourage the use of smoke alarms. Following the school visits, each child will be given a smoke alarm survey for parents to fill out. Every child who turns the form back in will be entered into a drawing to win a ride to school in a fire engine! Families that indicate they are in need of a smoke alarm or battery for their existing smoke alarm will be contacted by the Springfield Fire Department with details about its free smoke alarm program.

In addition to the elementary school visits, firefighters will also visit numerous preschools throughout Springfield in the month of October.