Kindergartners stop, drop and learn

AMENIA — The Amenia Elementary School kindergarten classes walked to the Amenia Firehouse for a fire safety and prevention presentation Oct. 24.

Phil Thompson, Amenia’s fire prevention officer, as well as captain of the Rescue Squad, said, "This is something that goes on every year." Two days earlier, the fire company visited Amenia Elementary to make a presentation to all grades, kindergarten through second. But Friday the presentations were strictly for the kindergarten.

Kindergarten teachers Michelle Smith, Renee Palmer and Jennifer Jaffe, as well as parents, chaperoned the field trip.

There were three education stations. Outside, firefighter Greg Grey and Captain Andy Murphy showed firefighter garments and let the children work the fire hose. Across the driveway, the ambulance was open and EMT Mary Ann Lamay from the Wassaic Rescue Squad spoke about riding in the ambulance and what it felt like to be strapped onto a stretcher.

Upstairs, Thompson reminded the youngsters about the important things to remember if there is a fire in their house. A smoke machine provided simulation as the children practiced crawling underneath the smoke, the stop, drop, cover and roll technique, and testing doors with the back of their hands to feel for heat on the other side.

"It’s amazing how much information these kids retain from a year ago," Thompson said. "It’s very encouraging that we can educate these 6-year-olds and that they’ll know exactly what to do in case of a fire."

The morning ended with the youngsters hitching a ride back to school via ambulance, fire truck and rescue squad vehicles, sirens blaring and children cheering.