ESTEVAN - The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency and the Saskatchewan Association of Fire Chiefs’ public education division have launched a new children’s activity book to emphasize the importance of fire safety.
The book, which offers colouring and other activities, will be delivered to elementary schools throughout Estevan and the province. It will be up to teachers to distribute them to their classes.
Estevan Fire Chief Dale Feser expects the books should be here for Fire Prevention Week from Oct. 3-9. The books can be worked on during class time or sent home as an assignment, to be completed with parents.
“It addresses a lot of current, relevant issues for today, such as even making sure that you’re safely charging cell phones. We do see a lot of young children having them,” said Feser.
People want to make sure that when a cell phone is plugged in and charging, it’s on a nightstand or a charging holder, rather than on or underneath a pillow, or on the bed itself.
“There has been some cases where cell phones have overheated, or there’s been a malfunction of the charging chord itself, starting the bed or the bedding material on fire.”
It’s also important to know how to properly plug a device into the wall, and make sure you’re not overloading any of the electrical outlet circuits.
The book also includes mazes and activities, and they discuss the need for home safety plans, having a safe muster point outside of the home, and knowing two ways to get out in case of a fire.
They also have safety lessons for when having a campfire – making sure there aren’t fire bans in place, keeping activity to a minimum around a fire, and staying a safe distance back from the flames.
“After the campfire is done, you want to make sure it is properly put out when you’re finished, so grab several buckets of water and make sure the fire is completely out.”
An individual should check on the fire before leaving to ensure it was extinguished.
Farm safety is also included in the book.
“Make sure the fire extinguishers are on board some of the farm equipment, and know what to do in the event that a fire should start, and make sure the fire extinguisher is ready to go,” said Feser.
Children learn tips for how to stop, drop and roll if their clothes catch of fire.
Feser is pleased with how the book turned out. It’s not too complicated, making it easy for children to understand.
“It’s reaching the target audiences that we want to see, and providing a safe, fun way to practise fire safety with the family,” said Feser. “We hope that the kids will bring this home, and the parents will partake in some of the activities with them as well, and enjoy colouring some of the pictures in there.”
The book was made possible through donations of fire departments in the province. Illustrations were completed by Saskatchewan artist Morghie Flaterud.
