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Hazelwood Fire Department Urges Residents to ‘Stay Fire Smart’
Fire Prevention Week-Oct. 4-10
When children touch a hot stove, not only do they learn a lesson but also they experience pain and burns that should not be a part of the learning process. That’s why the Hazelwood Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for Fire Prevention Week 2009, scheduled this week (Oct. 4-10), to urge residents to “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned.”
This year’s campaign focuses on ways to prevent painful burns and to keep homes safe from fires. The Hazelwood Fire Department will be taking its Safety Clubhouse to several elementary schools to help teach children important fire safety messages. This interactive educational tool is an RV that’s been converted into a small replica of a house with a kitchen, living room and bedroom which is handicapped accessible.
Firefighter/paramedics lead groups of youngsters through the Clubhouse and point out various fire hazards in each room. In the bedroom, a light non-toxic “smoke” is used to simulate a fire and the kids are taught what to do in that situation by using an escape route.
Hundreds of elementary school children benefit from this interactive and fun means of teaching fire safety on a yearly basis. In addition to using it at local elementary schools, the Hazelwood Fire Department loans out the Safety Clubhouse to other fire departments for their use upon request. Anyone interested in arranging a display at their event can contact Battalion Chief Randy Getz or Deputy Fire Marshal John Otte at (314) 731-3424. Questions regarding logistical or operational requirements should be directed to them as well.
The statistics are staggering. Each year, roughly 3,000 people die as a result of home fires and burns, and more than 200,000 individuals are seen in the nation’s emergency rooms for burn injuries.
“The most common types of burn injuries result from fire or flame burns, scalds and contact burns,” said Fire Chief Jim Matthies, Hazelwood Fire Department. “In our Safety Clubhouse, the kitchen area is the first room kids enter on their tour. Our firefighter/paramedics teach them the importance of having a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and not touching anything on the stove while the burners are on. Most burn injuries are entirely preventable. Keeping our homes safe from fire and preventing devastating burn injuries are healthy changes we can make happen.”
Another major fire safety initiative that the Hazelwood Fire Department launched this year is a city-wide effort, with assistance from both the Florissant Valley Fire Department and Robertson Fire Protection District, to reach approximately 10,000 households and make sure each residence has at least one working smoke detector.
Phase one began in July involving door-to-door canvassing of 6,500 single-family homes. Crews of Hazelwood firefighter/paramedics have been going to people’s homes testing smoke detectors, replacing dead batteries or installing new smoke detectors if the existing ones don’t work. Multi-family units and apartment complexes are expected to be covered during the second phase, scheduled for next spring.
Fire Prevention Week is actively supported by the Hazelwood Fire Department and other fire protection agencies across the country. For 85 years, fire departments have observed this national safety awareness week, making it the longest running public health and safety observance on record.
Residents, families and youth organizations interested in taking a tour of Hazelwood’s Firehouse #2 are welcome to do so. Just call (314) 731-3424 to make an appointment. Firehouse visits can be scheduled on weekdays and during the weekend.
