Fire Prevention Week Ideas That Go Beyond the Station Tour

Fire Prevention Week runs October 4^th through 10^th this year, which means school groups and families are lining up at stations across the country.  Station visits usually include all the same things: a look at the engine, a try-on of the helmet, maybe a sticker on the way out.  Kids love it, but the lessons are not always remembered by the time we get home.  If you want your fire station visitors to leave with skills instead of just memories, a few hands-on activities can make a big difference.

 

Why the Station Tour is Only the Starting Point

According to the NFPA, Fire Prevention Week traces back to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and has been officially observed for over a century.  The point has always been education.  A fire station tour shows kids what firefighters do.  Practice shows them what to do themselves.  The best outreach programs keep both in the mix and keep kids moving, asking questions, and trying things out.

 

Let Kids Meet the Firefighter Under the Gear

A firefighter in full gear and a mask can frighten a small child.  Have a crew member suit up slowly in front of the group, naming each piece as it goes on.  Then let them breathe through the mask and say hello.  Kids who have seen the person inside the gear are much less likely to hide from firefighters during a real emergency.

 

Practice the Skills That Actually Save Lives

Skip the lecture and set up simple stations in the bay, the parking lot, or a school gym that allow kids to actually practice the skills that will help during an emergency such as:

• Get low and go. Have kids crawl under a tape line or low tarp to practice saying beneath smoke.
• Stop, drop, and roll. Keep it short and a little silly, then repeat until it is automatic.
• Call 911. Hand over a disconnected phone and let kids practice giving their name and address.
• Know the sound. Let them hear a smoke alarm up close so it is not a shock when an emergency happens.

 

Put Smoke Alarms Front and Center

The NFPA reports that working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half, yet plenty of homes have alarms that are missing, expired, or dead.  Send kids home with a simple mission: ask a grown-up to test the alarms this week and check the date on the back.  If your department offers free alarm installs, pass out sign-up information at the same event.

 

Fire Prevention Week is the Perfect Time for an Inflatable Fire Education House

Teaching home fire safety is easier when people can stand inside an inflatable house.  Our inflatable fire education house was the first on the market in 2008 and has been ranked the number one engagement tool by departments nationwide.  Each area is built around a real-life lesson.

 

 

Exit Area: Practice E.D.I.T.H. Until It’s Automatic

One of the important lessons that can be learned in our inflatable fire education house is by practicing  E.D.I.T.H. (Exit Drills in the Home) step by step.  Everyone leaves the interactive inflatable knowing exactly what to do during an emergency so they can feel confident when disaster strikes.

 

 

Learn How to Identify the Hazards Throughout Your Home

Our inflatable fire education houses are made with three rooms: the kitchen, the living room, and the exit room.  Participants will walk through each room and learn how to identify fire hazards such as an unattended pot on a hot stove, a candle too close to something flammable, etc.  They can also learn about the vital role that smoke alarms play in warning residents that it is time to get out in an emergency.

 

 

Smoke machines can be paired with our inflatable fire education houses so that participants can see how smoke rises and practice staying low and crawling below the smoke.

Budget-Friendly, Portable, and Built to Be Shared

Traditional fire education trailers are valuable, but they are often out of reach for smaller departments.  An inflatable fire house is significantly more affordable.  These inflatables are lightweight yet durable and set up quickly, so you can share it with neighboring stations, schools, and local safety organizations instead of letting it sit between events.  It engages all ages and helps make sure fire safety lessons are remembered long after the event.

 

We also customize each house to show off your department, your logo, and the sponsors who helped bring it to your community.  That gives local businesses a meaningful way to support safety and gives your crew outreach everyone will recognize.

Make This Fire Prevention Week Count

A fire house tour is a great start, but the lessons that stick are the ones people practice.  If you would like to get a quote, learn more about customizable, or find out how an inflatable fire education house could work for your department, email us at fireeducation@boulderblimp.com.  We would be glad to help you get started and help you design your own inflatable fire education house for next Fire Prevention Week!