Area children will practice escaping from a simulated house fire during a training exercise for them on Saturday at Sutherlands, 1700 Industrial Road.
The practice, using a smoke trailer brought in by Hutchinson Community College, is one of many activities planned for the first Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness Day from 11 to 3 p.m.
Sutherlands’ parking lot and interior will be filled with equipment and booths to educate the public on the topic, according to Yard Manager Travis Hitt, who has coordinated the event.
Hitt also is a volunteer firefighter with the local department.
Emporia Fire Capt. Bill West said that youngsters will go into the smoke trailer, which is equipped to resemble a bedroom, and will need to use the skills firefighters will teach them to escape safely from the fire and meet the rest of their family at a pre-determined place away from the house.
The department also will give live demonstrations of fires and how they need to be handled.
One of them — a grease fire — will be put out with a lid, if it is a small fire, or with an extinguisher, if it is larger.
“We’re also going to do a small room fire,” West added. “We’re going to build a fake room with only three walls and a roof on it. Hopefully, the smoke detector will react early.”
The Emporia Police Department’s communications division will bring equipment to let children actually experience making a 911 emergency call, after dispatchers teach them how to make the call and what to expect when the call is answered.
Sheriff’s Deputy Cory Doudican, accompanied by his canine partner Tito, will be available to talk about the variety of work they are trained to do, and Sheriff’s Detective Travis Mishler will exhibit the county’s crime van.
A landing and display by personnel with the Midwest Lifeteam helicopter are planned, if their transport schedule permits.
Prize drawings will be held, hot dogs and pop will be given away, and The Wave 96.1 will broadcast remote from the parking lot.
Hitt said that although Sutherlands’ business lies in helping people build and renovate their homes and businesses, it also is important to protect what often is the largest investment they will make.
“It’s very often the little things that make the big difference, be it smoke detectors, be it knowledge of what to do in emergency situations,” Hitt said.
He especially likes the opportunity for children to have a dress rehearsal for escaping burning buildings, under controlled circumstances with their parents on-site to give them confidence.
“God forbid anything were ever to happen, you can subconsciously pull back on that memory: I’m supposed to get low. I’m supposed to feel the door with the back of my hand. ... We’re supposed to meet at the mailbox,” Hitt said.
“If you go through that once in a control situation, you’re less likely to panic and more likely to make good decisions.”
Sutherlands also has some old furniture it will use to demonstrate combustibility of materials and the inherent dangers in a fire.
“One of the biggest, of course, being smoke inhalation,” he added.
Hitt expects the activities and demonstrations on Saturday to become an annual event, because the company has singled out fire prevention and safety as a special issue.
Earlier this summer, Sutherlands donated all of the materials, plus Hitt’s time, to replace the roof on a training building at Fire Station 2. Hitt and local on-duty firefighters did the construction work on the roof.
Other booths and demonstrations scheduled at the event include:
F Search-and-rescue by the Civil Air Patrol
F An Identi-Kid registration booth operated by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Senior Patrol
F Disaster relief by Red Cross representatives
F Ambulance and fire equipment on display
The day is being sponsored by Classic Vending, Coca-Cola of Emporia, Fanestil Meats, Interstate Brands Corporation, Emporia Fire Department, Emporia Police Department, Lyon County Sheriff’s Department, and Lyon County Emergency Management.
kansasgirl (anonymous) says...
What a wonderful thing Sutherlands is doing. The safety of our children as well as adults should always be a priority. I hope many parents take advantage of this demonstration to help keep their children safe. Hats off to all who are participating.
August 12, 2008 at 7:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )