MORGANTOWN — The Morgantown Fire Department is hosted its annual Fire Prevention Puppet Show at University High School Tuesday afternoon. Kids were encouraged to sing, dance but most importantly learn about fire safety around the show “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!”
The local children learned about stop, drop roll, fire exit plans, checking for fire and smoking and practicing fire drills at home in case they should ever need an emergency evacuation plan. Puppets and Sparky the Dalmatian encouraged the kids with fun songs, and the students were given a test after the program. Some lucky kids also got to demonstrate on state how to stop, drop and roll.
Andy Dotson, the Morgantown Fire Department’s public education coordinator said that when the firefighters see the kids in public, they always remember the show.
“This show sticks with them and the catchy little songs that we hum for months – they’ll remember the song. When I see a kid in public a year from now they remember this puppet show. They remember touching the door with the back of your hand,” said Dotson.
Because the kids are so engaged with the show, Dotson said it’s a good time to reinforce a lot of good information through the puppets.
“We want them to take that information home to the parents. Be excited about it. Talk to their parents about it, cause we’re through the children teaching the parents about fire safety as well,” he said.
Teaching the kids teaches at every level through the home. Dotson said the kids think it’s fun to be able to go home and teach their parents something.
“The parents usually play along and it’s really good reinforcement of information,” he said.
Dotson said making sure the kids learn at a young age is important because they’re influential.
“Unfortunately, public education as far as fire prevention, we’re not out in the schools like we used to be. We get them a few times when they’re very little and then a kid may not see fire prevention or fire education again until they’re in college,” he said.
He said all education is best learned through having fun and hands on. Even though the kids are not doing hands on during the program, they’re up dancing and singing and having a good time.
“If you can tie fun in with education it’s always reinforced better with the children,” he said.
Fire Prevention Week is next week. Dotson said the programs were moved to this week because UHS has to prepare their sets for their show at the end of the month.
Dotson said that the information sticks with him too after the show is all over for the year.
“I’m usually singing the songs in my head until at least Christmas every year. My fun is watching the kids. I peek my little head out and watch the kids jumping around and having fun and engaged. Then to me, we did our job reaching the children,” he said.
