Day of fire-safety activities in Coatesville rates thumbs-up from kids
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Coatesville Police Officer Stephen Galletta demonstrates the fun of fingerprinting at “Fire Safety Day Camp.”
Coatesville first-responders traded the shrieks of emergency sirens for the shrieks of excited children Tuesday as “Fire Safety Day Camp” enlivened the Coatesville Community Center.
The young participants – more than 50 children in grades one through eight – represented a high-energy combination of the Brandywine YMCA’s Coatesville Memorial Community Camp and the Community Youth and Woman’s Alliance (CYWA) 2013 Coatesville Summer Camp.
Pam Lewis, who directs the Coatesville Memorial Community Camp, gave the experience high marks. “It was well-planned and organized,” she said. “The kids really enjoyed it, and they were well-educated about fire safety in the process.”
Pam Lewis (center) and Firefighter Craig Weaver hand out hats and t-shirts to the “Fire Safety Day Camp” participants.
Organized by the Coatesville Bureau of Fire, the daylong event featured a jam-packed schedule that included hands-on fire safety instruction, complete with a fire-safety trailer and 911 emergency phone call simulator. Stations were visited in shifts so that while some children toured an ambulance, others helped wield a hose and another group found itself trapped in a burning building – definitely one of the most popular attractions.
Rented from the Kennett Square Fire Company, the fire safety trailer features a kitchen, where a fire could easily start, as well as bedrooms, where residents could get trapped. After listening to fire safety tips from Kim Mattson, a former Coatesville firefighter who now serves as the fire and life safety educator for the Thorndale Fire Company, the children got to put the advice to use when the fire alarm sounded.
“The smoke trailer was a big hit,” said Coatesville Interim Fire Chief Jim Lentz. “The trailer is designed like a home and when filled with artificial smoke, it provides a fun but educational environment where the children must ‘stay low and go’ under the smoke and feel doors for heat before they are opened.“
“I’m the only one who didn’t cough,” said one proud 6-year-old girl. “That was my favorite part of the day.”
Participants in Coatesville’s “Fire Safety Day Camp” show off their hats and t-shirts at the Coatesville Community Center.
Both Lentz and Mattson said many of the kids wanted to repeat the simulation, but time was limited and other activities beckoned.
Inside the community center, Coatesville Police Officer Stephen Galletta and Det. Shawn Dowds assisted the children with identification kits, explaining why having fingerprints and addresses on file can improve their safety. Galletta said some of the kids had to be encouraged to learn their address so they could aid police in an emergency.
Outside, Kevin Kistler and Ted Fosselman gave tours of a Washington Hose Co. ambulance, fielding nonstop questions about their calls, such as which one was the most exciting or the scariest.
Lentz said the bureau has always tried to work with children to instill good safety practices at an early age. Kids often take the messages home to parents and inspire them to make changes, he said. Another benefit is the opportunity to forge positive bonds with the young people.
“It is also important to understand that we want the children to know us, in and out of our safety equipment. We do not want them to hide from us or be scared,” Lentz said. “This event provides an opportunity for the kids to be comfortable around us.”
Kim Mattson, fire and life safety educator for the Thorndale Volunteer Fire Company, assists campers with their hats.
By the end of the day, most of the approximately 20 adults were catching their breath as the kids were visibly comfortable, ready to repeat the activities, which rated an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
Lentz said he hoped the event would help spread the word about the importance of fire safety. He said 76 smoke detectors have been installed so far this year at no cost to city residents, and more are available by calling the smoke detector hotline at 610-384-0300, ext. 3101.
He expressed gratitude to the sponsors who helped make the event successful: West End Fire Company #3, Marco Fire Suppression, Coatesville Professional Firefighters IAFF L-3790, New Holland Auto Group, Washington Hose Company #1, 10-8 Emergency Vehicle Service, and the Kennett Square Fire Company.
As a result, the kids left with lots of goodies, including some leftover pizza, fire-safety t-shirts, ID kits, fire hats, certificates, and newly acquired knowledge. The only complaint? “I like tacos better than pizza,” one girl said. “Nah, pizza’s better,” a chorus of boys responded.
