Students Learn Life-Saving Fire Prevention Skills Through Hands-On Education
VermontBiz Red Fox Community School kicked off Fire Prevention Month by welcoming local firefighters and Red Fox parents, Nick Parks and Leslie Bledsoe, to teach students essential fire safety skills.
The day began with the school's first fire drill of the year, where students demonstrated excellent knowledge of safety protocols by evacuating quickly and calmly. Following the drill, Parks and Bledsoe shared critical fire safety information and provided students with goodie bags filled with educational materials, including magnets to help remind families to perform monthly smoke detector checks.
Photo: Local firefighters and Red Fox parents, Nick Parks and Leslie Bledsoe, to teach students essential fire safety skills. Courtesy photos.
A highlight of the visit was seeing the pumper truck and firefighting equipment up close. Students learned about firefighters' turnout gear, including the surprising weight of their oxygen tanks. They also discovered the different firefighting tools on the truck, the pumper's water capacity in gallons, and how long that supply would last during a major fire.
"Fire prevention and fire safety mean the world to me," said Leslie Bledsoe, who has three young children and feels deeply connected to the community through work, school, and the fire department. "I love that we were able to openly talk about fires in homes, equipment, hazards, prevention and reaction. It was a supportive and fun environment. The students had awesome questions and we had time to work through legitimate concerns and complexities like stuffies and pets!"
The interactive session included physical activities where students practiced "Get Low and Go" techniques, learning to stay low to the ground in smoke-filled areas and to touch doors to check for heat before opening them. Bledsoe led students through "Stop, Drop, and Roll" exercises to teach them what to do if their clothes ever catch fire.
Key safety lessons covered during the visit included:
- Never play with fire—matches, lighters, candles, and flammable liquids are not toys
- Create and practice a family escape plan with a designated meeting place outside, remembering "Don't Hide, Get Outside!"
- In case of fire, get outside first, then call 911 for help and provide your address
- Recognize the sound of smoke alarms and know what to do when they sound
- Use "Get Low and Go" in smoke-filled areas
- Practice "Stop, Drop, and Roll" if clothes catch fire
"As Nick and I pulled out of the school parking lot (with the siren on!), I felt a sense of accomplishment and relief," Bledsoe reflected. "I felt confident as firefighters that we did our job well and the students will carry this knowledge with them for years to come."
Photo: Local firefighters and Red Fox parents, Nick Parks and Leslie Bledsoe, to teach students essential fire safety skills. Courtesy photos.
Nicholas Parks echoed this sentiment: "We feel strongly about the importance of spreading fire safety awareness to help keep our community safe. If our visit to Red Fox Community School prompts just one more family to check their smoke detectors and discuss their fire escape plan, it will have been a worthwhile visit—and it was so much fun to interact with the kids, including our own, who engaged in the discussion with great focus, curiosity and enthusiasm."
The firefighters noted that both they and the students shared mutual excitement throughout the day, with children eager to ask questions and learn about the equipment that keeps their community safe.
Red Fox Community School’s Fire Safety Day exemplifies the school’s commitment to practical, community-connected education that empowers students with knowledge they can use throughout their life. In this case life-saving knowledge. These young learners now stand as ambassadors of fire safety in their homes and neighborhoods. In addition to understanding the importance of fire prevention as well as what they can do in case of an emergency, the students developed a newfound appreciation for the firefighters who protect our communities.
About Red Fox Community School:
Red Fox Community School (RFCS) is an independent progressive K-5 elementary school in Manchester Center, VT. RFCS educates students through shared authentic experiences, emphasizing the learning process and building meaningful connections with the outside world. For more information, please visit redfoxschool.org.
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