By AMBER SOUTH
@ShipNewsGirl
Second graders at James Burd Elementary stopped, dropped, rolled and raced Tuesday to learn about fire safety and prevention.
Race to the finish: James Burd second-grade teacher Debbie Shatzley and student Kaylee Miller race to put on a firefighter uniform Tuesday during a fire safety and prevention program at James Burn Elementary.
The program was part of a series Shippensburg Fire Department hosts throughout the school year in Shippensburg Area School District. Shippensburg Fire Chief Randy O’Donnell gave James Burd second graders their turn, with the help of junior firefighters Brandon O’Donnell and Colton Rine.
There were no fire trucks or other big equipment like the students may have seen in similar programs when they were younger. Instead, interactive activities were used to spark the kids’ interests and help them learn what to do if a fire happens and how to prevent one in the first place. O’Donnell told the students second grade is a good time to learn these things.
The fire chief used a question-and-answer approach to promote participation in a number of topics. The first lesson was on smoke detectors.
Of the 3,000 people in the U.S. that die in fires each year, most could have been prevented with a working smoke detector, O’Donnell said.
“Having a smoke detector is like having a fireman on duty all the time at your home,” he said.
Knowing what to do in the event of a fire is the best way to stay safe should one happen, O’Donnell said. With his direction, students answered questions about making a family escape plan with designated meet-up spots, how to notify authorities, and stressed the importance of not returning to the burning building for anything.
“If you know what to do there’s nothing to be scared of,” O’Donnell said.
When he asked for a volunteer for an unexplained activity, most students quickly shot a hand up. O’Donnell picked one girl out of the crowd and she demonstrated how to stop, drop and roll, while he talked about doing the maneuver to stop flames lit on clothing.
Although the program was focused on education, a firefighter uniform demonstration grabbed the kids attention too. While O’Donnell spoke through the process, Rine put the uniform on piece by piece. He walked through the crowd of students seated on the gym floor as they reached up to touch the uniform.
“It looks creepy but it’s cool!” one boy shouted.
After much debate among students, second-grade teacher Debbie Shatzley and student Kaylee Miller were picked to race to put on a uniform the fastest. Students’ applause for a winner was nearly even, but a classmate acting as judge chose Miller as the winner.
This is the second year the fire safety program was broken down for individual grades, O’Donnell later said. Students seem to learn more that way, and teachers seem to like it better, he said.
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Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com and 262-4771.