Safety In Our Schools Essays - Firefighting, Fire Prevention

Safety in our Schools Safety in the schools can mean life and death in many situations. One way is fires. With such things as thin walls, flammable interior, or exterior, schools could turn into a flaming inferno. All schools should be routinely checked for things such as escape routes from the building and the ease of opening and closing these routes. They also should be clear from any interfering things nearby. Schools should have such things as walls inside and outside that do not have flammable material. Often this is the reason that many brick buildings burn. Many think brick is the safest but often is inter-mixed with interiors that burn easily. If such buildings had non-flammable interiors, then such things might not happen. Schools should go through safety procedures with the children thoroughly at least once a month. The schools should try to communicate with the children about fires and try to get the point across clearly. Such things that should be mentioned are that children should leave the building quietly, even this is probably the hardest thing to do. The schools should try to teach the kids that running might get you out, but could injure or kill many more, some of them being friends or people you care for such as brother's or sister's even if they don't like them now, they'll miss them when they die. When the kids get out of the school, they should go to a selected place to wait for others and teachers to take authority. The children should then proceed to try to stay clear of the firemen and police officers that might soon arrive because of the consequences which might encounter the child if she/he gets in their way. The Firefighters could lose their concentration with such distractions could cost someone's life. When the children interfere with the firefighters, they could cause an explosion and be struck by equipment, colliding with a vehicle, etc. They would also slow down the firefighters often causing in yet another life or to the firefighter themselves. As in a house fire, your class should take precautions if you see smoke coming in your room or down the hall. If it's coming in your room, then you should close the door immediately if it's open or feel it if it's cold to see if its hot. If its not hot, open it slowly and proceed outside. If it's hot or there's smoke coming inside, close the door. Look for a fire escape if your above the first floor and exit onto it. If there is none, then wave something noticeable out the windows and try to get someone's attention. If you're on the first level, then just climb out the windows. Make sure you go out in some sort of an orderly fashion because if there is shoving or pushing, then people could get caught up, trampled on, or knocked back causing havoc. If you all leave patiently then you all have a better chance of getting out together and alive, non-cooperation could lead to people getting caught up or left behind, or getting out to late and being killed by the smoke coming in. Try to prevent something like this from starting by first trying to notice a new smell and see if it's smoke, if all agree then proceed to investigate. These are some very good tips on how to better prepare yourself and this is how I feel about fires and how they should be taught and helped be prevented. Bibliography 1. New York Times, 2 December 1958 2. "Urgent Message-Safe Schools," Newsweek, 15 December 1958 3. "A Nation's Haste to learn From a City's Sad Lesson," Newsweek, 15 December 1958 4. "Uses A Home Escape Plan," Lesson Plan #4 5. "Helps the Fire Department" Lesson Plan #9 6. "Fire Safety in the Home," 1976 Article #1 - 90 Perish in Chicago School Fire On December 1, something very unexpected happened in Chicago. A fire broke out killing 87 children and three nuns. It was at Our Lady of the Angels Roman Catholic Parochial School. Normally children would use the fire drills to exit a building calmly and quietly, but not this time. Children forgot these drills because of the panic. Some jumped out windows and others trampled over others to get out first and alive. There were rescue efforts made by the nuns, teachers, priests, janitors, and passer-bys who rescued more than 1,000 children. One class was found dead at their desks. They have found no evidence of