FIRE SAFETY HOUSE

In keeping with our mission of helping people prevent tragedies, our Chapter has instituted a special Fire Safety Education Program for children.

The New Jersey Depute Fire Chief’s Association presented our chapter with a 2-story house on wheels called the fire safety house. The house is equipped with a kitchen, living room and bedroom.

When the fire house travels to school, the local fire department goes too, dressed in their full gear so children can become familiar with these strangely garbed men, and not be frightened by them or their fire truck.

As children go through the house, they are taught how to handle appliances, how to use appliances safely, how to make a 9-1-1 call and the importance of smoke alarms.

On the second story of the little house, there is a bedroom, which fills with non-toxic smoke. The children are taught to escape by feeling all the doors. They learn not to open those hot to the touch. When they find the cool door, they open it to escape.

Upon their successful escape, the children are presented with a safety certificate, a fireman’s hat a fire safety coloring book and literature to share with their parents.

Trained Red Cross volunteers run the fire safety house, and last year 5,000 Camden County children went through the house to learn how to prevent a fire, or if necessary, how to save themselves. There is no charge for this program, which is available for schools and community events.

Helping to make this program available are our components and community sponsors.

To find out more information regarding booking the house or volunteering to help, call the Celeste Payne at 856-365-7100, Ext. 224 or email frostbe@usa.redcross.org.