Kids encouraged to talk fire safety with parents

Ken Johnston
Editor

Grades 1-5 were given a very important safety message last week when retired RR Fire Chief Dan Furyk and RR Volunteer Fireman Andre Bremault visited Riverview School.
The message was, “make a plan and practise it.” Furyk and Bremault told the kids to go home and have their parents devise an escape plan for the possibility of a fire in their home, should it ever happen.
In a video shown to the kids it was noted that only 16% of homes surveyed said they had a home escape plan and had practised it.
“Planing and practising it could save your lives,” said Furyk.
Once an escape route is planned, a place for all to meet should be decided upon and Furyk said all members of the family should go there immediately upon escaping. He warned them to “Never go back in. Nine times out of ten you will not come back after a second trip. If the fire doesn’t kill you the smoke will.”
Furyk noted that fires spread very quickly and despite having forgotten something in the house, people should not ever go back in.
Furyk encouraged the kids to take home the handouts he and Bremault gave them and make a plan with their parents. “You should also practise it at least once a month.”
Bremault put on a fire suit so that the kids could see what a fireman looks like. “Do not be afraid of a fireman when he comes into your house. You go to him immediately. He is there to save you,” said Furyk.