Every year on the first Saturday of October, five local fire brigades join forces to host Family Fire Prevention Day.
On Saturday, October 3rd families can look forward to Family Fire Prevention Day, a fire prevention and safety awareness presentation put together through the volunteer efforts of five local departments. The brigades involved include Huntingdon, Godmanchester, Hinchinbrooke, New York’s Constable, and new this year, the Sainte-Barbe fire department. The event, which will take place at the Heritage Elementary School, will be held rain or shine. Families, especially those with children, are encouraged to attend.
While firehouse-themed bounce houses will be on site for the children, the main theme of the day will focus around the importance of fire alarms. While this topic may seem repetitive to some, the importance of following the right protocol has become imperative to surviving a fire. As Constable’s fireman James Gavin puts it, “Sadly, this isn’t a topic that concerns people because their houses aren’t on fire.” While many people may go their entire lives without ever having to experience a fire, some will not. Unfortunately, a lack of information can lead to fatalities. Here’s a shocking and little known fact: according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the sounding of a fire alarm gives one’s family two minutes to safely exit the building. This isn’t due to the dangers of fire—those are secondary. The accumulation of smoke within two minutes makes it impossible for someone to see where they are going—even if they are familiar with their surroundings—resulting in severe smoke inhalation, which is the number one cause of death within a fire. In a recent experiment orchestrated by NBC, a family of five were tested on their exit strategy in case of a fire. The experiment took place in the middle of the night. While the parents were able to leave the house within two minutes, their three children did not. One exited the building within four minutes, the second within 22 minutes, and the third child had pulled his blanket over his head in order to sleep through the alarm. In a realistic scenario, all three of these children would not have been able to exit the building, based on their lack of fire knowledge.
This year’s event, which will be presented in both English and French, addresses families, and especially children. The day will include a live rescue skit, interactive videos for both parents and children, as well as a demonstration—which will include an opportunity for guests to get some actual practice with a fire extinguisher. The fire department volunteers will be on hand to answer any of your questions. This presentation is funded exclusively by local sponsors, who are equally concerned with the safety of the community.
It is essential to remember that our volunteer firemen are often longstanding members of the community. They put themselves in harm’s way to ensure the well-being of their neighbours, often in emergency situations. Events like Family Fire Prevention Day allow our firemen to better inform the community on safety protocols that can be life-saving for both emergency workers and families alike. “If we can help just one person, than we have done our jobs,” says Gavin when asked his opinion on the relevance of such an event. Such an event is a gift to our community, so be sure to make it a priority to attend, if even for a couple of hours. For more information about the event, contact James Gavin of the Constable Volunteer Firemen 450-264-2165.
