TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
On Thursday, March 16, 2023, the Merrill Fire Department (MFD) hosted a lunch and tour for Mrs. Lisa Hass’s fourth grade class from Washington Elementary School in Merrill. The tour was part of a bigger fire prevention and fire safety education program.
“In October, Merrill Firefighters visited every kindergarten to fifth grade class in Merrill to provide them with fire safety education,” Mrs. Hass said. “Each class was assigned homework to complete with their families, with tasks ranging from checking smoke detectors to practicing a home escape drill. If all the students in class completed their fire safety homework, the class was entered into a drawing to win lunch and a firehouse tour.”
That homework is important, and working with young students who share what they are learning about fire prevention and safety with their families expands the reach of fire education in the community. It increases the number of families in the Merrill area who are taking critical steps–like ensuring there are working smoke detectors throughout their homes, having home evacuation plans and a meeting place established and known by all family members, and taking other fire safety measures. It also helps children become comfortable with fire fighters and emergency personnel so that, in the case of an emergency, they do not fear them but recognize them as being the people who are there to help.
“We utilize these firehouse tours and lunches as a way to motivate the students to complete their Fire Safety homework,” said John Kraegenbrink, MFD Division Lead for Public Education. “We give students tasks including a Home Safety Checklist, smoke detector checks, and fire evacuation plans as a vital way to keep our community safe. The students work their way through fire safety education and they become our Jr. Firefighters. They bring our message into their homes to their families. When we ask students to create a home evacuation plan and practice it with their families, moms and dads are happy to jump in and do it with their kids.”
Mrs. Hass’s class was thrilled to learn they were the winners of the drawing for lunch and the MFD tour.
During the tour, kids got the opportunity to explore and learn more about the life of firefighters and emergency medical personnel who serve the Merrill community and surrounding area, as well as the equipment they wear and use to perform their duties. They got to see and learn more about the jaws of life, and they explored fire trucks, ambulances, and emergency vehicles at the station. They got to see, explore, ask questions about anything and everything, and learn in an up-close and personal way, the way most kids learn and retain information the best.
“The students were interested to see where the firefighters sleep and eat while they are on duty,” Mrs. Hass said. “They were really impressed when they were allowed to crawl through the emergency vehicles in the truck bay.”
“The fire station was awesome,” said Christopher, a fourth grade student in the class. “They let us get in the emergency vehicles. My favorite was the giant ladder truck!”
Students also learned that firefighters and EMT’s respond to more than just fires.
Firefighters demonstrated how the jaws of life can crush something huge or be very precise and crush a little pop can. “The kids thought it was very cool!” said Kelli Morgan, MAPS Social Worker.
They learned about what EMT’s do in an emergency situation and what it’s like to be in an ambulance.
“I enjoy introducing the kids to things in the ambulance that might seem scary at first,” said MFD firefighter Corey Nowak. “By learning more about the ambulance, the kids become desensitized to that initial fear, and it might help them to handle an emergency situation better.”
For instance, “I like to show them how the cardiac monitor works,” he said. And, “Kids are surprised when I show them that when an IV catheter is in your body, the sharp part is gone.”
Knowledge is power.
Students also learned a little bit about history, including the history of the MFD as it relates to their teacher.
“We thought it was so cool when we saw our teacher, Mrs Hass’s dad’s badge and his helmet on the wall!” said Lilian, another fourth grader on the tour. “Her grandpa and her great-grandpa were firefighters, too!”
