Fire Station Tour

Welcome back to the Summer Bucket List!

Can you believe we are on week 9 already? Only three weeks left in my 12 week series. Where has the summer gone? So much to do, so little time! Here's a quick re-cap in case you missed one of our summer adventures!

Week 1: We were at the Botanical Garden

Week 2: Found us at The Carnival

Week 3: We were lolly-gagging on the The Beach

Week 4: Our boys were Hiking in the Rockies

Week 5: We visited the largest Farmers Market in the Midwest

Week 6: Our Lords and Ladies visited the Bristol Renaissance Faire

Week 7: We checked out The County Fair

Week 8: Our baby went on an Alaskan Mission

And this week is week 9........

I am taking you on a tour of the Fire Station! The Fire Station field trip has been a part of our home schooling for years. I believe the first time we went our oldest son was in Kindergarden. There is something kids love about these shinny red trucks! We have been regular visitors ever since.

Our teenage boys hang out at the Station rather frequently. They are now part of our local Explorers Post, and spend a lot of time with their professional advisors learning about this career option.

In these photos, they are running the Burger Sale at the station as a Post fund raiser. The department also has a pancake breakfast, a Chili Feed and a few other community events that they participate in each year. Another favorite event is the National Night Out, where various emergency persons come together in communities and neighborhoods to educate the public. Click on the website link for more information. 

Our whole family gets involved, my husband likes to be in charge of the funds. I prefer the grilling, which is why I am not in any of these pictures. Greasy and smelly do not faire well with the camera. Watch for Fireman's events in your area and stop in to have a burger and say "Hi". You can also arrange private group field trips at the fire department for no cost. 

The firemen are very friendly and would love to show you and the kids around. 

Did you know that this could be one of the most important field trips you ever take with your children?

The firemen tell us that when they enter a burning building, young children are often so frightened of them in their bunker gear that they run away from the people who are there to help them.

This is a tragedy that should never happen. By visiting the station, talking with the firemen and seeing their gear ahead of time, children are not so afraid during critical situations.

This field trip could save their life one day.

On top of that, it's just plain interesting. Did you know there is a lot of chemistry involved in fire fighting? For example, the dispatcher asks people who call in and report fires all sorts of questions regarding what kind of fire they are reporting. This is important so that the right type of truck and equipment are sent to the fire. No time can be wasted for errors.

Who would have thought that you can't fight a grease fire with water? Or that they actually use a baking soda product to put out different fires? Or that fire extinguishers are not all the same and have different labels for ash, grease, etc. 

Certain pieces of equipment the fire department uses, such as the Jaws of Life, are so large and heavy, only a man of large physical size can lift them. Who knew?

We learned that our community was designed with too few fire hydrants, so they have a special truck which holds an extra 5000 gallons of water that is dispatched to needed locations. 

5000 gallons! Wow!

There is much to learn from visiting the Fire Department, make it part of your Bucket List!

See you next week for another adventure...

Linking up to Living and Learning at Home.