Members of the Verdoy Volunteer Fire Department visited Capital Region BOCES for an interactive fire safety presentation for elementary and middle school students at Airline Drive Academy. Students learned about batteries, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and more. 

The presentation consisted of an in-door experience where students enjoyed demonstrations such as watching a firefighter put on his fire suit and air tag, and an out-door experience where students got to sit inside of the fire truck and explore the tools used to fight different kinds of fires. 

In addition to a stop, drop and roll demonstration, students learned what to do if the battery in a tablet or cellphone malfunctioned. The firefighters warned students of the dangers of batteries from third-party sellers, adding that the battery in an Apple or Samsung device, for example, should be replaced with a battery from those companies.

“They learned more about their cellphones, because there are new batteries that they have in the new equipment, ” said Teaching Assistant Natalie Powell.  

If the battery is ballooning or glitching in any way, students were instructed to “leave it where it is, tell an adult, call 911 and have us come and we’re going to handle it in a special way,” Verdoy firefighters said. 

The firefighters also asked students, “does anyone here cook or help their family cook,” to which there was a resounding “yes” and many hands raised in the air.  Students were instructed to never throw water on a stovetop fire that involves oil. 

“When we’re cooking on a stovetop and using any type of oil and the oil in your pan catches fire, you do not want to put water on that. Whatever actually makes oil fires bigger,” the firefighters said. “If you happen to have a fire extinguisher in your house, this has a special powder that we use for kitchen fires.” 

Students also learned about the importance of families having a safety plan, which must include a designated safe spot where everyone can meet in case of an emergency. 

The firefighters said it can be a neighbor’s tree or a mailbox as long as it’s a safe distance from the fire. They added that the students should stay at the location and wait for help to arrive, reminding students that firefighters have protective gear that allows them to safely re-enter homes and will always do their absolute best to keep everyone safe. 

“Get out and stay out. If you have a pet still inside, you’re going to let one of us know and we’re going to go inside,” the firefighters said. “We’ve done it plenty of times. I’ve pulled a dog out—it’s what we do. We go in, we’ll save people, we’ll also save your pets. We just need to know that they’re inside and where they might be hiding.”