Towamensing Elementary School students got some handy advice on emergency safety and prevention from their local volunteer fire company as part of Fire Prevention Week on Wednesday.

“Today we’re here at Towamensing Elementary School to give a safety briefing, and also a fire prevention lesson, to the elementary school kids,” Towamensing Township Volunteer Firefighter Austin Lesko said. “We’re talking mainly about things that kids would encounter in an emergency situation, how to call 911, things to do if their clothing catches on fire, and general safety tips for around the house.”

Lesko and the Towamensing team held lessons for each class throughout the day, covering subjects including fire prevention, firefighter equipment, and what to do in case of a fire. Students got to partake in a live demonstration on how to check if it is safe to exit a room in a burning building thanks to a small demo door that the firefighters brought along.

“When your house is on fire, the first thing to do is check your door with the back of your hand, and if it’s cold, open the door and go out,” first-grader Jacob Shafer, 6, said after the lesson. “You also have to crawl on your knees. You have to feel the door, and if it’s hot, you have to stay in.”

One main point of the day was getting the kids acquainted with their local firefighters, to ensure that the emergency workers could perform their jobs as effectively as possible when something goes wrong.

“They seem to respond very well to our firefighters, so they’re less afraid of us in the event of an emergency,” volunteer firefighter Billie Jo Moyer said. “That is our main goal, they need to realize what we’re going to look like when we come in with our gear, because a fire or an accident is scary enough. We’re just a plain person underneath all of that gear, it’s just there to protect us so we can get them out and save them.”

The kids also got a reminder on how to best assist emergency workers during a fire, including the proper way to attract a firefighter’s attention, with the entire class shouting, “I’m over here!” in response to calls from junior firefighters Adrian Holthausen and Zach Schoenberger.

“Everybody’s been very excited, very active, and they’ve been very interested,” volunteer firefighter Matt DeGolyer said. “It’s actually very surprising, and very nice to see. It’s great to see that their families have plans, and that they’ve talked to them about fire services, police services, medical services, so these younger kids aren’t scared when we come out.”

After the lessons, students got to check out the fire company’s engines and forestry truck in the parking lot. Volunteer firefighter Jason Beers pointed out some of the complex equipment on the sides of the trucks, explaining what tools are used in certain situations. One of the most exciting parts of the day included a firsthand look at the interior of the trucks, where the students excitedly explored the massive emergency vehicles with the firefighters.

All of the Towamensing crew was pleasantly surprised with the students’ knowledge of fire safety and prevention, which could prove invaluable if and when the kids decide to join the volunteer firefighting forces in the future. Based on the response when DeGolyer asked if anyone wanted to join up, it seems that Towamensing can count on a full crew.

“I can’t wait until the future comes, when I can see all of your faces at the fire hall,” he told a class. “Because it’s a fun and rewarding experience.”