Students write about fire safety
BY SANDY MATHER Educational Services
Bad Health and Safety Workmen - Extinguish a Fire
ACTIVITIES
●Follow Keondra, Renee and Lenells’ advice and check all of the smoke alarm batteries at home.
●Have a family discussion about fire safety as Dilara and Keondra suggest.
●Luke points out the importance of being cautious. careful and alert. Write down why this is an important part of fire safety.
●Create a fire escape plan as Caleigh suggests and remember to identify a meeting place outside.
FIRE SAFETY VOCABULARY
●ambulance - a special vehicle used to transport injured people, usually to the hospital.
●dispatcher - a person who send out messages quickly.
●enunciate - to speak clearly and distinctly.
●evacuate - to remove people from a dangerous area to safety.
●fuel - combustible matter used to maintain a fire.
●hazard - an unavoidable danger or risk.
●operator - a person who operates a telephone switchboard.
The Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (IFSA) recently sponsored a student essay contest where students in grades kindergarten through eight were asked to write to the theme, "I can help protect my family from fire by ..." The essays were judged by members of the IFSA board of directors where one first and second place winner was selected in grades K-3, 4-6 and 7-8. Hundreds of essays were submitted by students throughout Illinois. Each of the first place winners were recognized at the IFSA Annual Fire Prevention Week Luncheon, Oct. 13, 2011.
Congratulations to each of the winners. Below are the winning student essays.
1st Place Grades K-3
To help protect my family from fire, I would teach them all the safety rules. First, we need a plan to get out of the house fast in case there is a fire! I would tell my family to make sure our smoke alarms always work. If the alarm goes off, everyone makes sure all the family knows to go outside without stopping to take anything and we call 9-1-1 right away.
- Keondra Williams, 3rd Grade
George M. Pullman School, Chicago, IL
2nd Place Grades K-3
I can help protect my family from fire by reminding my parents to check our smoke detector batteries every month. I will tell my parents if I saw some electrical appliances that is on and not being used to avoid overheating.
I will ask my parents to turn on and test the water from the shower before I take a bath to avoid myself from burning.
Most of all I will not play with fire.
- Renee Gen Pantaleon, 2nd Grade
St. Paul of the Cross School, Des Plaines, IL
1st Place Grades 4-6
I can help protect my family from fire by having a fire escape plan to follow and knowing where to go in case of fire. Another way is not putting things on lamps where they can burn. If you catch on fire don't panic, drop on the ground and roll to put the fire out.
Never leave a candle unattended where it can go wild and start a fire. Try to eliminate dry leaves, bushes and papers because it can be fuel for a fire. Don't play with matches and remember fire safety!
- Caleigh Larkin, 4th Grade
Roslyn Road School, Lake Barrington, IL
2nd Place Grades 4-6
I can help protect my family from fire by... I can put fire detectors around the house. I can make a map to where we should go if there is a fire. I can go over the fire safety steps with my family whenever I get the chance. I will remind my family if the fire detectors go on just drop everything and reach an exit. Even if the detectors do not go off but you smell smoke, inform others in the house and run for an exit. That is what I will do to keep my family safe from fire.
- Dilara Karatos, 5th Grade
Walt Disney Magnet School, Chicago, IL
1st Place Grades 7-8
I can help protect my family from fires by being cautious, careful, and alert. If I see a fire, my family will know, and I will do all I can to safely help. An example is in Africa, our trampoline caught fire because it was next to a flammable, burning object. We were able to stop it using some quick thinking and smart procedures.
Let me share these procedures with you. If there's a fire, you immediately get help. Secondly, put it out with a safe substance like water. Make sure nothing else catches fire or it'll just be harder to stop. For more information, ask an adult or look it up online. I hope this helps you protect your family.
- Luke Brogden, 7th Grade
Franklin Middle School, Wheaton, IL
2nd Place Grades 7-8
I can help protect my family from fire by telling them different ways to prevent fires. Many people die because of not knowing proper fire prevention.
First, never play with matches, lighters or candles. Secondly, never play with electrical cords and never put anything wet near electrical sockets. Also, blankets or clothes should never be thrown over a lamp because it could start a fire. Make sure your house has a good working extinguisher. Finally, make sure you have a good smoke detector.
In conclusion, I learned about how to prevent fires and how fires can start. To me, fires are a burning issue that families need to discuss.
- Lenell Henry, 7th Grade
George M. Pullman School, Chicago, IL