'Don't use 911 to order pizza'

WORLAND - The Worland Fire Department is spending a busy Fire Prevention Week talking to students in the Worland community about ways to prevent fires.

The department visited kindergarten and first-grade classes at East Side on Monday, and second- and third-grade classes at South Side on Tuesday. Today they will be visiting Worland Head Start and Worland Preschool as well as the Washakie County Library to talk to children about fire prevention and fire safety.

Thursday they will head to West Side to talk to the fourth- and fifth-graders where they will go through the "smoke bus" to see if they could use the tips they've been learning each year during Fire Prevention Week, to get through the maze.

On Tuesday, during a visit with Jannel Scheuerman's second-grade class, Fire Chief Chris Kocher opened up the presentation asking the students what they remembered from last year. One student piped up "Don't call 911 to order pizza." Kocher reminded students why they do call 911 - for emergencies, which can be for fire, or if someone is hurt or in trouble.

They also remembered to "stop, drop and roll," with firefighter Bruce Nielson reminding them to stop, which stops the spread of the fire, to cover their face, then to drop and roll. Student Ike Byrd assisted Nielson in demonstrating the process as the whole class joined in.

They also were reminded to "get low, stay low and get out of the fire." Kocher reminded the students when they get out of the fire, if it is at their home they are to go the family meeting place. About half of the students said their family had a meeting place. Kocher assigned the entire class "homework" to go home and make sure their family has a meeting place and that everyone knows where it is.

He said the firefighters prefer a family has a meeting place in front of the home and at a place that cannot be moved, like a tree or a mailbox.

That lesson fit in with this year's Fire Prevention Week theme: "Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!"

Fire Prevention Week is on record as the longest running public health observance, according to the National Archives and Records Administration's Library Information Center. 

National Fire Protection Association has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week since 1922, when the commemoration began. 

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), "In a fire, seconds count. Seconds can mean the difference between residents of our community escaping safely from a fire or having their lives end in tragedy."

This year's theme is meant to reinforces why everyone needs to have an escape plan.

According to the NFPA, here's this year's key campaign messages:

-Draw a map of your home by using our grid in English (PDF) or Spanish (PDF) with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.

-Practice your home fire drill twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home, and practice using different ways out.

-Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can't help them.

-Make sure the number of your home is clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find.

-Close doors behind you as you leave – this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.

-Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building.

"Fire Prevention Week in Worland will conclude Saturday with the annual community pancake breakfast at the Worland Fire Hall. Along with a free breakfast, people will have a chance to ride on a fire truck.