The Meridian Fire Department through a partnership with the Meridian School District, celebrated their grand opening of the Meridian Fire Safety Center in May 2005.
The fire Safety Center is an educational tool used to teach fire prevention and fire survival in an interactive manner. A goal of the center is to facilitate an opportunity for every second grade student in the City of Meridian to visit the Fire Safety Center. This age is most appropriate for the educational material covered and is the ideal age for children to learn and enjoy their visit. The facility is equipped with a bedroom that has a recreation of a fire that took place in Meridian. Students witness how the fire progressed and see by the amount of damage that there is room to live by crawling low. The fully equipped kitchen is used to teach cooking, medicine and cleaning supply safety. There are two bedrooms that are used to teach children what it would be like to be in a fire situation. One is equipped with a heated door that simulates what a door might feel like in the event there is a fire on the other side. Children are taught ways to get out of a burning house safely. They are instructed to “crawl low beneath the smoke” as they exit to safety. Along the way, they check the bedroom door for heat with the back of their hand. If the door feels warm they use their second way out and exit through the window. The facility utilizes theatrical smoke to further the realism of the training. Once the students are safely outside, they proceed to the meeting place. Once there, they each call 9-1-1 utilizing a phone system with real dial and ring tones; the calls go into a simulated dispatch center. Children are instructed to give their name, the address and type of emergency and to stay on the phone until they are told to hang up. After practicing their emergency reporting procedures the children have a question-and-answer time, followed by a discussion to empower students to take what they have learned home to teach their families.
The practical hands-on activities reinforce the lessons taught in the classroom. These fun exercises prepare children to react safely and appropriately in case of an actual emergency.
The facility is also used to teach classes in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), baby-sitter, licensed day-care provider, first-aid, and adult fire safety classes.
The facility is located at 1901 E. Leighfield Drive in Meridian. Classes can be set up for groups of 10 or more by calling the Fire Safety Center at 884-0597. |
