By STEPHANIE BUNKER
Moapa Valley Progress
The kindergarten students at Grant Bowler Elementary School learned to “Stop, Drop, and Roll” last week with help from Moapa Valley Fire Chief Stephen Neel, and his wife Alecia. As part of nation-wide Fire Prevention Week, the big yellow fire truck pulled up to the school on Tuesday morning Oct. 8 and the Neel family began their presentation in the classroom.
Alecia began testing the kids’ knowledge on what to do if they are ever in a house fire. The kids knew the right answers. They talked about the importance of an emergency plan and how they shouldn’t play with matches or lighters.
“I’ve seen a lot of houses burn down from kids your age playing with fire,” said Alecia.
The kindergarteners learned that if they are in a room with fire they need to stay low to the ground and ‘army crawl’ to the exit. Some of the kids even demonstrated the army crawl.
Alecia emphasized that in order to be a firefighter the kids need to listen to their teachers now so they can learn to read and get good grades.
After learning the basics in the classroom the kids got to go outside and see some real fire fighting equipment. Chief Neel showed the audience how he can quickly dress in his turn- outs and put on all his other equipment so he can be ready for a fire. Alecia told them that all of the equipment her husband was wearing weighed about as much as one kindergartner.
Chief Neel turned on the air tank and breathing mask to let the kids listen to the sound it makes.
“It makes a Darth Vader sound!” Alecia observed. “But if you are in a burning building and you hear that, don’t be afraid. You need to yell and say ‘I’m here!’ Don’t hide!”
The kids got to try on the helmets, boots, air tank and bunker pants; all of them being drowned in the much too large equipment. Then they were able to walk through the fire engine and see where the firefighters prepare for the action. To top it off the kids were given red plastic fireman helmets and a water bottle with safety tips written on it.
The fire prevention activity was well received by the kindergartners who were excited to see all the equipment and the fire engine. But the most important part was what the kids learned.
“This is the age where the kids start playing with matches and getting into things,” said Chief Neel after the presentation. “We want them to understand the importance of staying away from those things.”