Nature: Fire Prevention Week Activities – Long Neck Elementary School – Firefighter Meet & Greet / Gear Up Throw Down Challenge

On Thursday, October 21^st, the Fire Prevention Cohort of the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company in collaboration with the Long Neck Elementary School conducted their annual fire prevention program offering fire prevention educational and safety initiatives to enhance awareness and well as other competitive challenges to fulfill the weeklong objectives.

These child-friendly events feature a variety of recreational and educational activities for children of all grade levels providing them a chance to meet and greet with local firefighters in a low-key environment that helps build familiarity with the children. 

According to the national standard, firefighters should be able to don their respective firefighter gears (i.e., structural boots, pants, coat, gloves, hood, and helmet) in one minute. Donning a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), face piece, and breathing air from the SCBA requires an additional minute—for a total of two minutes. Besides quickly turning out for a response, donning your gear proficiently is one of the proven ways to save time on the fireground. You can put on only so much gear before entering the apparatus: boots, pants, hood, radio, and coat, etc.

This recreational activity allows the children to witness firefighters gearing up and then challenges them to interact in a friendly competition to see how this process can be complicated.  Teaching staff and school administrators were also welcomed to participate.

Illustrated herewith are some photographs of the activities.