Jake The Fire Safety Dog joined his friend Maranda from WOTV4Women and kids in Kalamazoo came ready to run the Fifth Third Junior on October 22.
Kids ages five to 13 got to participate in a half mile or one mile fun run on the track at Kalamazoo Central High School. The program is hosted by the Fifth Third River Bank Run. It introduces kids to running through the Feelin’ Good Mileage Club, which took place in more than 20 area schools. Students who completed at least five miles in the Feelin’ Good Mileage Club got to participate in Fifth Third Junior for free!
KALAMAZOO COUNTY, Mich. (WOTV) Students in the Kalamazoo area are getting a first-hand lesson at how trees turn into lumber. The Log to Lumber program was started five years ago to teach kids in wood shop about where lumber comes from. The program also shows them how their classes relate to real-life situations and lets them explore career opportunities they might not otherwise know about.
The program teaches students about forestry, forest management, how to measure a tree, determine its value, and cut it down. It then takes them through the process of hauling a tree to the saw mill and cutting it into boards.
Here is the full video of the Log to Lumber program on Maranda Where You Live – 10/23/2014:
Here is the 1st part of the Log To Lumber program on Maranda Where You Live – 10/23/2014:
Here is the 2nd part:
Here is the 3rd part:
Here is the 4th and final part:
Nothing says fall quite like a campfire. Whether telling spooky ghost stories or roasting marshmallows around the fire, it’s important to understand how to stay safe around a fall campfire.
- Select an appropriate location. Before creating a campfire, make sure you understand any rules or regulations for your area. Avoid building the fire near low-hanging branches, tree roots, structures, and other flammable items. Try to choose a location where your fire will be sheltered from the wind and use campfire rings or other designated campfire accessories whenever possible.
- Use the appropriate campfire fuel. Soft woods like pine, fir, and cedar are best for starting a fire. Start the fire by building a small teepee of dry sticks and igniting it with a match. As the fire gets started, add larger pieces of wood. Remember to keep the fire small. Don’t burn items that may explode or give off toxic fumes. Items should never be thrown in a fire. That includes batteries, plastic bags, glass, and aluminum cans.
- Supervise the campfire area continuously. A responsible adult should always be present while a campfire is burning. Encourage small children to stay seated several feet away from the fire. Extinguished campfire areas should still be monitored after the flames have gone out to make sure the campfire does not re-ignite and to make sure that children are not burned by embers, which still retain heat even after the fire is extinguished.
- Completely extinguish the campfire. A roaring fire is both a success, and a responsibility. It is your job to properly maintain and extinguish your campfire when you are finished. Make sure you always have a large bucket of water and metal shovel on hand to put out the fire. Pour lots of water on the fire, drown all embers, not just the red ones, until the hissing sound stops. Stir the campfire ashes and embers with a shovel and pour more water on the ashes, then feel the area to make sure they are cold to the touch.
From the pumpkin patch to ghost stories around the campfire, E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire Safety reminds you that fall activities are more fun when you know that your kids are safe Where You Live!
Smoke alarms are vital resources in any home, but especially where children live. 2013 ended as the worst year for civilian fire deaths in Michigan that we haven’t seen since 1999. The rise in fire fatalities occurred in homes that didn’t have working smoke alarms. Sometimes the smoke alarm battery is removed because of a nuisance alarm (caused by cooking or steam from the shower), or when the smoke alarm “chirps” due to a low battery. These loud and unexpected noises often scare young children.
My friends from E.S.C.A.P.E. Fire & Safety offer these tips to introduce the sound of a smoke alarm and talk about fire safety to children early and often:
- Talk about fire safety with your kids in their home, where they feel secure. It’s never too early to begin discussions about who firefighters are, what a family escape map is, and how and when to go to a neighbor’s house during a fire or smoke emergency.
- Practice home fire drills on a regular basis. This can decrease anxiety and allow children to respond calmly.
- Teach children that the smoke alarm gives an early warning so everyone can get out of the house safely.
- Begin to practice by pretending the alarm has gone off, and have the child leave the house quickly and calmly.
- Next, place a pillow over the alarm, or place duct tape or electrical tape over the horn of the smoke alarm to muffle the sound. Press the test button to activate the alarm and introduce the softer sound to the child.
- Once the child is comfortable with the softer sound of the smoke alarm, remove the tape and allow him or her to hear the actual sound.
- Set the alarm off on purpose and practice leaving the house again.
- During fire drills, practice leaving the house from different rooms so children get used to doing so.
- Practice a fire drill at night, after children have gone to sleep since some children may sleep through the sound of a smoke alarm.
If your child’s fear about the smoke alarm continues, especially when it’s activated in school, have a short meeting with your child’s teacher to explain the issue. The teacher may be able to devote extra class time to discussions about what happens during a fire drill. Often when students have the chance to talk about their smoke alarm fears with their classmates, they will realize it’s not as scary as it seems.
Finally, some children with a form of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may experience sensory overload and may not be able to initially handle high-pitched noises, such as the sound of a smoke alarm. The blaring noise may prevent the child from thinking or comprehending the appropriate action to take and cause him or her to freeze or hide. A scared child won’t be able to learn and may not remember what to do during an emergency. Again, to introduce children with ASD to the sound of a smoke alarm, try placing a pillow or heavy tape over the horn. Once the test button is depressed, the sound level emitted during the drill will be reduced and the child won’t experience pain and will less likely to become scared. There are even smoke alarms available where a parent can record their own voice into the alarm. During an alarm activation the parent’s voice will speak to the child alerting him or her to Get Out and Stay Out during fire or smoke conditions.
With lots of patience, positive reinforcement and encouragement, you can teach children ways to reduce the anxiety and fear from the sound of a smoke alarm. They will understand what to do and where to go during fire or smoke conditions.
