Local firefighters, fire trucks and Sparky the Fire Dog made sure the Fire Safety Assemblies at the Herkimer Elementary School were a fun time, but the overall message was a serious one in line with October being National Fire Prevention Month.
Herkimer technology integration specialist Richard Mathy, who also is a firefighter for the Old Forge Volunteer Fire Department, led the assemblies along with firefighters from the Herkimer Fire Department and East Herkimer Fire Department.
“Our goal is to protect you guys and keep everybody safe, and that’s why we’re here today,” Mathy said.
The Herkimer Elementary School Fire Safety Assemblies took place on Thursday, Oct. 12. The first assembly was for prekindergarten through second grade, and the second assembly was for third grade through fifth grade.
Mathy discussed fire safety guidelines for home including don’t play with matches or lighters, don’t leave a burning candle, keep clothes and other items away from things that get hot such as a radiator and don’t play near open fires, stoves or other flames.
“Fire safety at home starts with you,” he said.
Mathy also spoke about the importance of smoke detectors and practicing how to exit your home as you would if there was a fire. The reason to practice is the same as why fire drills are held at school, he said.
“We practice in drills, so we know what to do in an emergency,” Mathy said. “Same thing at home. You should practice at home, know how to get out and know where to go.”
When exiting a home during a fire, you should focus on getting out, stay low to avoid smoke and use the back of your hand to feel if a door is hot or not before opening it, Mathy said. He also said what to do if you or your clothing catch fire, with students joining in to say “stop, drop and roll.”
Herkimer and East Herkimer firefighters then put their fire gear on and crawled across the floor to demonstrate what they look and sound like when responding to a fire and avoiding smoke.
The finale of the assemblies was the arrival of Sparky the Fire Dog – with cheers of excitement from the students – followed by going outside to look at the fire trucks from the Herkimer and East Herkimer departments. On the way outside and back inside, students greeted Spark with high fives and hugs, and Sparky broke out some dance moves.
Sparky the Fire Dog and Herkimer technology integration specialist Richard Mathy, who also is a firefighter for the Old Forge Volunteer Fire Department, present to Herkimer Elementary School students during a Fire Safety Assembly on Thursday, Oct. 12.
Herkimer and East Herkimer firefighters exhibit for students how they look and sound in full gear when crawling into a home to avoid smoke, during a Herkimer Elementary School Fire Safety Assembly on Thursday, Oct. 12.
Sparky the Fire Dog makes his entrance to loud cheers during a Herkimer Elementary School Fire Safety Assembly on Thursday, Oct. 12.
Herkimer technology integration specialist Richard Mathy, who also is a firefighter for the Old Forge Volunteer Fire Department, speaks to Herkimer students in prekindergarten through second grade during the first of two Fire Safety Assemblies on Thursday, Oct. 12.
Herkimer technology integration specialist Richard Mathy, who also is a firefighter for the Old Forge Volunteer Fire Department, speaks to Herkimer students in third grade through fifth grade during the second of two Fire Safety Assemblies on Thursday, Oct. 12.
Herkimer technology integration specialist Richard Mathy, who also is a firefighter for the Old Forge Volunteer Fire Department, speaks to Herkimer students in prekindergarten through second grade during the first of two Fire Safety Assemblies on Thursday, Oct. 12.
Herkimer technology integration specialist Richard Mathy, who also is a firefighter for the Old Forge Volunteer Fire Department, speaks to Herkimer students in third grade through fifth grade during the second of two Fire Safety Assemblies on Thursday, Oct. 12.