Clown costumes and face paint are being put to good use as Shawnee firefighters begin teaching fire safety during fire prevention week programs this week at local elementary schools. Tecumseh and Bethel firefighters also have programs at schools this week.
National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 5-11, is a time to promote fire safety and prevention. It’s also a time for families to review their home fire escape plans and check their homes for fire hazards and other dangers.
It’s also a time each year to teach children important life-saving messages, something local firefighters have done for many years. Through fun skits that the children remember, clowns teach children about escaping from a burning home, having a meeting place in case of fire and other preventative tips, such as wearing helmets when riding bikes and dangers of playing with matches.
The Shawnee Fire Department clown program reaches thousands of elementary students each year. By the time students reach third grade, most have seen the program several times and that repetitiveness helps them remember important fire safety advice.
In addition to the programs scheduled at schools, Shawnee firefighter clowns also will perform an evening show this week that is free and open to the public. Parents from all communities are invited to bring their children to the program, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday night in the conference center at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center.
Clown programs were held Monday at Liberty, Pleasant Grove and Grove, and shows are scheduled the rest of the week for students at North and South Rock Creek schools, Crossroads Head Start along with all Shawnee elementary schools — Wilson, Will Rogers, Horace Mann, Jefferson and Sequoyah.
In addition, Shawnee clowns will visit Asher Elementary as well as Barnard Elementary in Tecumseh.
Firefighter clowns in this year’s show are Jim Ogle as Ogie, Richard Stevenson as Scooter, Chip Sheppard as Crash, Travis White is Sparky the Pup and Patrick Winsett’s stage name is Patrick Star.
Tecumseh and Bethel Acres fire departments also are planning fire prevention week festivities in their areas. In Tecumseh, firefighters will put on programs with Freddie the Fire Truck at Tecumseh Head Start, Krouch Early Childhood Center and Barnard Elementary. At Cross Timbers Elementary, third and fourth-grade students will be going through Farm Bureau’s Smoke Trailer, which simulates a house fire and shows students how to exit a burning home.
Bethel firefighters will do a prevention program at Bethel Elementary School this week and some students will visit the Bethel fire station.
Some tips to remember during Fire Prevention Week include:
• Install and maintain a working smoke alarm outside of every sleep area of a home and remember to change the battery every six months. Monthly tests are suggested.
• Designate two fire escape routes from each bedroom and practice them regularly. Crawl low under smoke if there is a fire.
• Teach everyone the “Stop, Drop, and Roll” technique in case clothing catches fire.
• Teach children that matches, lighters and candles are tools, not toys.
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Kim Morava may be reached at 214-3962.
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Did You Know?
• The Shawnee Firefighter clowns will present an evening fire prevention show at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the conference center at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center, U.S. 177 and Independence. The show is free and open to the public.
• National Fire Prevention Week each October was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 people homeless and destroyed more than 17,400 structures.
• The Shawnee Fire Department has a free smoke detector program for those who need one. Residents can call 273-4282 for more information.
