|
|
Evacuation Drill: Fire Safety for Kids
PHOTO BY SUSAN NISSMAN Station 125 Hook and Ladder. They went alllllll the way up! PHOTO BY ANTHONY VEREBES, MESSENGER, 2012 © Demonstration of water drop by aerial helicopter firefighters on April 28.
Wednesday, April 25, was an exciting day for Topanga Elementary School students when the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Topanga Station 69, a water-dropping helicopter and Station 125 Hook and Ladder showed up.
“The reason we do this every year is because you always have new parents and children, and to reinforce that the school is a safe place to shelter in case of wildland fire,” said Susan Nissman, Sr. Deputy to Supervisor Yaroslavsky.
“We make a point of bringing trucks and firefighters to demonstrate foam/spray on the building up at the playground. The ‘copter did a water drop and this year, the kids got an extra treat of seeing the ladder go allllllll the way up! The school is incredibly cooperative and supportive,” Nissman added.
As exciting as it was, it was designed to educate children and teachers on how the Fire Department will respond during school hours.
In a real emergency, firefighters and equipment will be deployed at the school and children will be “sheltered in place,” and protected until it is safe for parents to come and pick them up.
Principal Nicole Sheard commented on how much she values the collaboration with L.A. County to simulate what would happen at the school in an actual emergency situation.
“It is crucial for the students to be aware of what to do in the event of an emergency,” she said. “Besides being entertained by the fire trucks, firemen and the helicopter dropping water, a drill like this enables them to know that they are safe and will be protected if there were ever a real emergency.”
