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STUDENTS LEARN VALUABLE LESSONS ON FIRE SAFETY, FIREFIGHTING PROFESSION
THROUGH ABINGTON TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT’S VISITS TO SCHOOLS

ATFD Makes Stops at Copper Beech Elementary School, Abington Junior High School in May

ABINGTON – The Abington Township Fire Department (ATFD) brought its messages of fire safety and recruitment to schools across the township this spring in an effort to teach young people how to prevent and react to emergency situations and introduce them to the field of firefighting.

Throughout April and May, the ATFD brought its Safety House trailer to Center School, Our Lady Help Christian School, St. John of Cross School, St. Luke’s School, Highland Elementary School, McKinley Elementary School, Rydal East School, Copper Beech Elementary School and Roslyn Elementary School. The Safety House is a portable trailer that enables firefighters to teach children about fire safety in the various rooms of a home.

Students had the opportunity to learn about the dos and don’ts of kitchen safety, such as making sure pot handles are turned to the side, keeping towels and other flammable materials away from ovens and burners, and keeping metal objects out of the microwave. Children were reminded to make sure their smoke detectors have working batteries and to keep toys and other objects away from fireplaces, and they also had the opportunity to practice placing a 9‐1‐ 1 call. In addition, youngsters learned how to test a bedroom door for heat, how to stay low in a smoke‐filled room, and to find an alternative exit when fire is blocking the door.

Community Service Specialist Jeffrey Glynn said it’s important to educate children about fire safety so that they know how to both prevent and react in emergency situations. In some cases, the firefighters who interact with young children might find that a majority of them don’t know their addresses, and can then bring that up with educators to make sure the students learn that vital information.

Copper Beech Elementary School students said their tour of the Safety House was valuable and could easily recite some of the lessons they had learned on May 13th.

“If there’s fire and smoke, should make sure your door is not hot. If it’s hot, you should open the window and climb out,” said third‐grader Ashley Adams‐Causley.

Classmate Meaghan Webb said the emphasis on knowing her address was important.

“It was good because if you have a fire, you should call 9‐1‐1‐ and if they ask for your address and you don’t know it, they won’t know where to find you,” she said.

In addition to the safety tips, the Safety House visits are important for raising the ATFD’s visibility in the community, said trainers John Lewis and Howard Williams, who both belong to the Roslyn Fire Company.

“I think we get involved in the community a lot. It’s important to be involved so people know who we are,” said Mr. Lewis, who added that young children who interact early on with firefighters might become interested in serving themselves one day.

The ATFD also participated in Abington Junior High School’s Career Fair on May 14th. The event was a chance to speak to junior high students about the many opportunities that exist in the firefighting profession.

Mr. Glynn provided students with an overview of the ATFD, which is all volunteer, and also touched on the opportunities for paid careers in firefighting. He encouraged students interested in the field to take fire science classes in college. Students watched a recruitment video and listened to comments by Assistant Fire Marshal John Rohrer and McKinley Fire Chief
Chris Bors. Mr. Rohrer noted that students who have an interest in math, science, computers, photography, or extreme sports might find they enjoy firefighting, which encompasses all of those topics.

“It is very intense, but it is something you’ll never regret doing,” said Mr. Glynn.

The ATFD headquarters is located at 1176 Old York Road in Abington. For more information, visit www.abingtonfd.org.