*Children's Television Workshop used to have, and may very well still have, some kits (little booklets, cassette tapes, posters) for disaster drills and information on earthquakes and fires, etc. *Plan, practice and record fire drills. Post exit plans in your house. Send home reminders to do the same at child's own home. *Check your own smoke/fire alarms regularly and send home a reminder for parents to do the same. *Watch Scholastic and Troll book clubs and garage sales for great books on fire safety. *Check your local library children's section. *Triaminic Parents Club ocassionally has special offers available to their members (lower cost with product proofs of purchase). We purchased a couple different safety programs. Kid Safe included a lot of fire safety information, including prevention, reporting, and fire personnel arriving in full garb ... *Here are the main units I cover in the school program I present. I also use materials and a video I got some years ago (for FREE!) called Smoke Detectives. It was from State Farm Insurance. I'll try to locate the address and check on availability.... 1)Hot things can hurt - stay away 2)What to do when you find matches/lighters/other dangerous things 3) Stop Drop and Roll (we practice, we also practice telling others what to do ... a young child is apt to forget in an emergency like this and start running around ... bystanders need to learn how to tell them to STOP, DROP AND ROLL, ROLL, ROLL...) 4) Cold Water for a Hot Burn 5) Smoke Alarms - what they sound like, what they mean, what to do 6) Stay Low - Get Out Now! 7) Escape Plans/Meeting Places - We Don't Go Back In! 8) Fire Fighters - Different apparel & what it is for - what it looks like - what fire fighters do INSERT: Ah! Nancy has the information already! A few years ago I sent away for "The Smoke Detectives" fire safety program. It's designed for k-6th grade and it is FREE!!!!!! You get a really cute video along with a binder that includes tons of curriculum ideas and take home activities. This kit can be used in the school or in the home. The video: "Smoke Detectives follows the adventures of four elementary-school-aged children as they teach a slightly confused vampire the basics of fire safety". I wish you could see this kit. It's fabulous. I guarantee that you will like this. Just write to the address below and tell them that you would like a copy of "The Smoke Detectives Educational Fire Safety Program". I am hoping they still have it available. I got my a few years after a friend had received hers. SMOKE DETECTIVES (A-4) State Farm Insurance Companies One State Farm Plaza Bloomington, IL 61710-0001 You probably won't have this for fire prevention week but it is a great resource to have on hand. Again, it is FREE! *If you know a fire fighter, you might let him/her know that you are very interested in fire safety. Let them know that you would be very interested in obtaining some old used equipment (a real hat, a nozzle and short portion of hose, a jacket, etc.) for your drama area. Equipment is expensive and many volunteers have to purchase their own apparel. With budget cuts across the nation, too, even paid personnel do not get issued abundant equipment. They take good care of it, of course, but sometimes it becomes outdated or no longer qualifies to be used in the course of fire fighting. It never hurts to ask ... we obtained two great fire helmets this way. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Role Play Provide play phones and a card with the 911 emergency number or the phone number for the local fire department. Let children act out calling the fire department to report a fire. Stress that they should only call if there is a real fire. Calling the fire department as a trick is very dangerous and foolish thing. *Flame Paints with Marbles. Materials: Yellow and red tempera paint in small cups or bowls; marbles; box lid and manila paper Procedure: 1. Let children lay a piece of manila paper in the box lid. 2. spoon out one to three small blobs of pint on the paper and place one or more marbles in the lid. 3. By tilting the lid slightly the marbles will roll around through the paint and make "flame" designs. Add more spoonfuls of paint if desired to increase the color blending. *Books to read: Arnold, Caroline, "Who Keeps Us Safe?" Watts, 1982 Bester, Roger. "Fireman Jim" Crown, 1981 Bundt, Nancy. "The Fire Station Book" Carolrhoda Books, 1981 Elliot, Dan. "A visit to the Sesame Street Firehouse" Rando House, 1983 Gibbons, Gail. "Fire!, Fire!" Harper and Row, 1984 *Fire Safety (tune of: Frere Jacques) Never, never, play with matches If you do, if you do You might burn your fingers, you might burn your fingers That won't do, that won't do. Never, never, play with matches (or fire) If you do, if you do, You might burn your house down, you might burn your house down, That won't do, that won't do. (you might burn the forest is another verse) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here's some info from the United State Fire Administration: Use the following fire safety and prevention information to lead discussions. Control kids' access to fire: *Keep all matches and lighters out of the hands of children. If possible, keep these sources of fire in locked drawers. Consider buying only "child-proof" lighters -- but be aware that no product is completely child-proof. *Children as young as two years old can strike matches and start fires. *Never leave children unattended near operating stoves or burning candles, even for a short time. *Teach children not to pick up matches or lighters they may find. Instead, they should tell an adult immediately. Fire safety at home: *Smoke detectors should be installed on every floor of the home, especially near sleeping areas. *Smoke detectors should be kept clean of dust by regularly vacuuming over and around them. *Replace batteries in smoke detectors at least once a year. And replace the entire unit after ten years of service, or as the manufacturer recommends. *Families should plan and practice two escape routes from each room of their home. *Regularly inspect the home for fire hazards. *If there are adults in the home who smoke, they should use heavy safety ashtrays -- and discard ashes and butts in metal, sealed containers or the toilet. *If there is a fireplace in the home, the entire opening should be covered by a heavy safety screen. The chimney should be professionally inspected and cleaned annually. Warning Signs Kids may be experimenting with fire if you notice: *Evidence of fire play, such as burnt matches, clothes, paper, toys, etc., or if you smell smoke in hair or clothes. *Inappropriate interest in firefighters and/or fire trucks, such as frequent, improper calls to the fire department or 9-1-1. *Child asks or tries to light cigarettes or candles for you or other adults. *Matches or lighters in their pockets or rooms. Channel Curiosity Turn kids' interest into safe outcomes: *Talk to your child or students in a calm, assured manner about fire safety. *Consider visiting a fire station if children are very interested in fire fighting and/or fire trucks (call for an appointment first). Have the firefighter talk about his/her job and the dangers of fire. *For parents: Create opportunities for learning about fire safety at home. For example, when you cook, let your child get the pot holder for you; when you use the fireplace, let your child bring you the wood or tools; and if you use candles, let the child check to make sure the candle holder fits snugly. What to do if you suspect your student/child is playing with fire: *Talk to the child about his or her actions. Explain again that fire is a tool for use only by adults, and that it is very dangerous for children. *Many schools and fire departments have programs for children who are inappropriately interested in fire or who have set fires. *Many police stations have programs for children who show signs of becoming juvenile fire setters. NOTE: The Sesame Street Fire Station Program will not be available until after October 1, 1997. If you are a preschool or day care provider and wish to receive a copy of this program, please send a written request on your organization's official stationary to: United States Fire Administration Sesame Street Fire Safety Station Program 16825 South Seton Avenue Emmitsburg, MD 21727 Please include the following information: your name, name of your organization, mailing address with zip code, and your area code and phone number. NOTE: Visit the United State Fire Administration site and look at the quizzes, parent/teacher guide, lists of available materials to download or order, links to other Fire Safety sites. http://www.usfa.fema.gov/kids/tchindex.htm