Fire Prevention Week

On Saturday I took the kids to the fire station. They were having their second annual block party to celebrate Fire Prevention Week. Garrett is just a little obsessed with fire trucks and firefighters, so needless to say, he was in heaven. Meagan thinks it's all pretty cool too.

The kids were allowed into the trucks and got to see them up close and climb on them. There were firefighters around to supervise and explain what various knobs and gadgets do. The firefighters went out of their way to make this an enjoyable experience for the kids.
Sparky the Firedog made an appearance.
E, one of the teachers I work with, was putting tattoos on children (okay, adults too) who wanted them.
Garrett didn't want to get out.
Here is Garrett with Sparky. Last year he didn't cry but didn't want to get near him. This year, before we even got to the fire station, he told me he would go stand by him and let me take his picture.
They had so many activities I can't even remember them all. Meagan is coloring a picture for the coloring contest.
Here she is throwing balls at the dunking booth.
There was a moonwalk, a cupcake walk, putt putt golf, a school supply give-away, take your picture with Sparky, lots and lots of information for kids and parents/adults on staying safe, demonstrations by the arson dog, free balloons, an ambulance for the kids to get into, Red Cross information, a crash simulator (to see the necessity of wearing your seat belt, free hot dogs and lemonade, and I'm sure I'm forgetting even more.

In the week prior to the block party the firefighters visited all the local elementary schools to explain what to do in the case of a house fire. They explained how to escape from a burning house safely, how the firefighters might look and sound a little scary, and how to make a plan to keep everyone safe after a house fire. Garrett came home reminding me to check the battery in my smoke alarm!

I would like to say THANK YOU! to all firefighters out there. You make our world a little safer to live in and you are not recognized enough for it in my opinion. Your willingness to go out into the community to share your message is a testament to how seriously you take your job and I thank you for it as a mom and as a teacher. You are all heroes in my book!