Kids at Clarkson Elementary know more about fire safety thanks to Independence Township Fire Department.
Fire Marshall Bruce Harbin and other department employees told kids their homework was to make sure they had working smoke detectors in their home. ‘Smoke makes people sick,? he said. ‘When you are sleeping you won’t smell the smoke. We have pulled people from fire that look fine, but they are dead from smoke. Sleep with your door closed at night. During a fire feel the door with the back of your hand.?
Kids were also reminded to call 9-1-1 in an emergency.
Harbin demonstrated how firefighters enter a home to perform search and rescue. In their full-gear uniform the firefighters crawl on their hands and knees to search a home because smoke and heat rises and there is fresh air is on the ground. Their uniforms are equipped with an air tank. If a firefighter is injured in a home a very loud alarm bell will sound so other firefighters can find the downed man. Fire Week Prevention was recognized Oct. 5-11 for 2014.