News>Firefighters teach fire prevention to Honduran children
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Honduran go read fire safety handouts Oct. 19, 2011, during a tour of a fire station at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. Airmen from the 612th Air Base Squadron Fire Department provided fire safety training to more than 95 local children. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Matthew McGovern)
Airmen from the 612th Air Base Squadron Fire Department help children crawl through a simulator containing dry ice smoke as part of fire safety training Oct. 19, 2011, at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. Other activities included a smoke detector class, fire station tour and water truck demonstration. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Matthew McGovern)
Tech. Sgt. Joseph Nix teaches local kindergarten children to stay low when encountering smoke Oct. 19, 2011, at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras. Airmen from the 612th Air Base Squadron Fire Department provided fire safety training to more than 95 local kindergarten children during fire prevention week. Nix is the 612th ABS assistance chief of fire prevention. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech.Sgt. Matthew McGovern)
by Tech. Sgt. Matthew McGovern
Joint Task Force-Bravo Public Affairs
10/25/2011 - SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras (AFNS) -- Firefighters from the 612th Air Base Squadron provided fire safety training to more than 95 local kindergarten children here recently.
The activities, as part fire prevention week, included crawling through a simulator containing dry ice smoke, participating in a smoke detector class, touring the fire station and watching a water truck demonstration.
"Their level of fire protection isn't at the level it is in the (U.S.), so the more we can educate them, the better prepared they will be if there is a fire in their home or school," said Tech. Sgt. Joseph Nix, the 612th ABS assistance chief of fire prevention.
Reaction time, the importance of an escape route, and the dangers and effects of smoke were also discussed during the smoke detector class.
"I learned to get down low when there is smoke and to run fast to call the fire department," said Caro Argueta, a 5-year-old student from Comayagua.
Sparky, the fire dog, was also on hand to interact and handout firefighter hats to the children.
"My favorite part was when Sparky was dancing," said David Derosa, age 6. "I also loved the smoke and the gifts."
Fire prevention handouts, translated in Spanish, were provided to the children to be shared with their families and friends.
"We are trying to keep the local kids and their families safe as well as strengthen our ties with our local fire department and community," Nix said.
Senior Master Sgt. Michael Burns, the 612th ABS Fire Emergency Services chief, has assisted with previous local fire prevention training and can attest to the importance of educating the youth.
"If you teach them at a young age, they can appreciate what can happen to them, and how to correctly react to a fire situation," Burns said.
Earlier in the day, the firefighters participated in a local parade where they handed out safety flyers, fire hats and candy to children.
