Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School students had a chance to speak with volunteer firefighters from the Village of Croton-on-Hudson in advance of Fire Prevention Week, a nationwide initiative.“We have one week each year dedicated to teaching people how to prevent fires and what to do if one starts,” Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department Deputy Chief Thomas “Tex” Dinkler told students.
Dinkler and his fellow volunteers visited each classroom at CET on Sept. 30 to answer students’ questions about fire safety and give them materials to help them complete activities at the department’s 2015 Fire Fair, which will be held on Sunday, Oct. 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Harmon Firehouse.“If you complete the five activities, you can ride on the fire truck,” Dinkler told the excited students, adding that the fair would give them opportunities to practice “stopping, dropping and rolling,” climbing down fire ladders and bailing out of windows.
He emphasized the importance of participating in fire drills not just at school, but also at home. Following the firefighters’ presentations, students took home activity books that included posters they can design to show their own home’s fire escape plan. One poster from each grade level will be selected as a winner by fire department personnel.“Once you hear the smoke detector, you need to stay outside. You don’t go back for anything,” Dinkler said. “The most important thing to take out of the house is you.”
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