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A Newsletter by the City of Saco, Maine	October, 2007	Return to newsletter index

October Fire Prevention at Saco Schools

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A student leaves the fire safety house during a recent demonstration.

With October being fire prevention month, the department has a busy schedule visiting the Saco Schools. Fire Prevention Coordinator Captain Marc Paquette presents several age appropriate lessons to the school populations. The Saco and Biddeford Fire departments co-own a fire safety house which allows firefighters to sound smoke detectors, induce light non-irritating smoke into rooms, and teach proper exiting staying low under smoke.

From kindergarten to 2nd grade the focus is on proper exiting from their homes. Students are taught how to react when they hear a smoke detector, how to check doors for heat before they open them, how to stay low under smoke, and to go to a predetermined family meeting point. They are given material to bring home so their parents can prepare an exit plan. Approximately 700 students attend this training annually.

In grades 3 to 5 the students review exiting procedures and are introduced to preparing a family escape plan themselves. Age appropriate literature is provided to assist them with the plan. This plan is taken home and the parents hopefully become involved with the process. Approximately 650 students attend this training annually.

This year the department will begin a pilot program for grades 6 to 8 which covers preventing the 8 major causes of death for this age group. The department uses nationally recognized curriculums to present education to all target age groups.

The department will also begin a pilot program for the elderly. National statistics indicate the elderly have a greater potential for injuries or death from fires. The new program will educate this population to proper exiting, common fire causes, and proper reaction during fire emergencies.