Firefighters Take Kids For A Ride

Livingston firefighters are not just experts at putting out fires. They’re also masters at educating kids about fire safety. As they make their rounds at the town’s public and private schools over the next few weeks, the Fire Department will be giving children in kindergarten through second grade rides in their fire trucks to solidify the memory of what they’re learning about Protecting Your Family From Fire.  

Here are 5 tips your children may share with you:

• Firefighters crawl through fires, so it’s important that the floor is clear of toys, clothes, and other objects. In other words, EVERYONE should be picking up after themselves.
• Test smoke alarms at least once a month. One way to remember is to do it on the day of your child’s birthday. For example, if your child was born on Oct. 18, check the alarms on the 18^th of each month. 
• Find out how old your smoke alarms are. Alarms that are more than 10 years old should be replaced.
• Go over your home fire escape drill and make sure it includes an outside meeting place. Don’t move from that meeting place until a firefighter tells you it’s okay. Too many kids go to the neighbor’s or a friend’s house without their parents knowing where they are and firefighters can waste valuable time looking for someone who is, in fact, not in the house.
• Don’t go back inside to look for a pet. Tell the firefighters what kind of pet it is and where you last saw it. They’ll do their best to rescue it. 

For more information about the Livingston Fire Department, visit them at www.livingstonfire.org.  Click on their Kids Links button on the left to find some cool websites with games and fire safety information.