The McHenry Township Fire Protection District is using the classroom to get to know students better.
“Two new programs, Adopt a Firefighter and Junior Fire Inspectors, are helping us to be more visible in the schools,” said Linda Brady, public education coordinator for the district. “These programs help us teach our fire and life safety lessons with an emphasis on prevention.”
The Junior Fire Inspector program recently visited the Johnsburg School District’s Ringwood Elementary School. First graders had an opportunity to meet several firefighters dressed for action and get inside a fire engine.
“It was exciting for the kids to see the firefighters wearing a full uniform,” said teacher Lynn Froeming. “Seeing the firefighters in all that gear and listening to them talk while they have the mask on can be kind of scary for the kids. But in this situation, they learn not to be afraid.”
After the fire and life safety lessons, the students took an oath promising to be safe and prevent fires. Then each child received a Junior Fire Inspector certificate and badge.
“It was really fun and important for me to see the kids saying the oath,” Brady said. “The oath empowers the kids with the knowledge and then gives them the responsibility to prevent fires in their own homes and maybe even save lives.”
“I learned to call the 911 phone number when there’s a fire,” said Brittany McNish, a Ringwood 1st grader. “The firefighters told us to practice getting out of our house by crawling on the floor.”
At Valley View School in the McHenry Elementary School District, five 1st-grade classrooms will adopt a firefighter for the school term.
