October 6^th-12^th - Fire Prevention Week 

  

Introduction

“Not every hero wears a cape. Plan and practice your escape!”

The Governor General of Canada proclaims Fire Prevention Week each year. This year, it occurs the week of October 6-12 and the 2019 theme is “ Not every hero wears a cape. Plan and practice your escape!” The focus is on educating everyone about the small but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe. As the theme says, we all need to heed the advice to “Plan and Practice Your Escape!”

Fire prevention week was created in memory of the great Chicago fire in October 8-9, 1871 that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 people homeless, burned down 17,400 structures, and more than 200 acres of land.  You may wish to consult nfpa.org for more information on the history of this day and events and resources related to it.

To get more information, including videos and templates, visit: https://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/FireMarshal/FireSafetyandPublicEducation/FirePreventionWeek/OFM_FPW.html

Poster: https://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/sites/default/files/content/ofm/docs/OFM_FPW_2019_handout_ENG_Accessible.pdf

Escape Plan: https://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/sites/default/files/content/ofm/docs/Escape%20Plan%202017.pdf

 

 

 

Activity Bursts

Grades K-2 - Safety

Gather students and ask:

• What do you already know about fire safety?
• Have you ever seen a fire? Where? What caused it?

Share the theme for Fire Prevention Week 2019: “ Not every hero wears a cape. Plan and practice your escape!”

Ask:

• What does a hero look like?
• What do they do?
• Do you think firefighters and police officers can be heroes too? Why?

Explain that every family needs a plan to find their way out if there is a fire. Ask:

• Does your family have a plan?
• What would you do if you detected a fire in your home?

Together, watch the “Home Escape Planning” video at: https://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/FireMarshal/FireSafetyandPublicEducation/FirePreventionWeek/OFM_FPW.html

Ask students to share something they learned from this video.

Print the Poster and Escape Plan available at https://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/sites/default/files/content/ofm/docs/Escape%20Plan%202017.pdf and send copies home for families to practice their plan.

 

Grades 3-5 - Safety, The Arts 

Gather students and ask:

• Why do you think Canada dedicates a whole week to fire prevention?
• What important things do you know about fire prevention?
• What do you do at home to prevent fires?
• What do we do at school to help us prepare in case a fire happens?

Share the 2019 Fire Prevention Week Theme, “Not every hero wears a cape. Plan and practice your escape.”

Ask:

• What do you think is the message in this theme?
• Why do you think the word “hero” appears?
• Do you think firefighters and police officers are heroes? Discuss.
• Do you have an escape plan for your home? Ask for volunteers to share their plan.

Review and practise the fire escape plan for the school and classroom in the event of a fire.

Ask:

• What would you do if the fire alarm went off at school and you were in the library? Washroom? Hall? Review correct procedures.

Grades 6-8 - Safety, Critical Thinking 

Did you know?

Statistics suggest that there are about 24,000 house fires each year in Canada, resulting in an average of 377 deaths and 3,048 injuries per year.

Test your students’ fire IQ by asking the questions below:

 

Q: What do you think is the #1 cause of house fires in Canada?

A: The #1 ignition source in all preventable house fires is cooking equipment that ignites clothing, oil, or flammable liquids.

 

Q: How many of Canada’s 24,000 fires each year include fatalities?

A: In Canada, 1 out of 100 preventable residential fires are fatal.

 

Q: What three rooms in the house are most likely to be involved in a fire?

A: Fires are most likely to start in the kitchen, bedrooms and living room.

 

Q: In fatal, preventable fires, what percentage of homes do you think did not have a working smoke detector?

A: In fatal, preventable house fires, more than 1/3 of the homes didn’t have a working smoke detector.

 

Finally, ask students what you should do to put out a fire on your stove that contained grease or oil. Accept several answers, and then watch the following You Tube video to confirm the correct answer: globalnews.ca/video/3787735/how-to-correctly-put-out-a-kitchen-grease-fire

Invite students to check out the Fire Safety IQ of family members. Discuss the 2019 theme for Fire Prevention Week, “Not every hero wears a cape. Plan and practice your escape.” Ask students if they have a family plan for escape in the event of a fire. Invite volunteers to share theirs. Print and distribute the Escape Plan template at: https://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/sites/default/files/content/ofm/docs/Escape%20Plan%202017.pdf

Ask students to fill out the template with the best possible escape plan. Encourage students to take the plan home and review it with their families.

 

For more information, lessons, games and activities, visit: nfpa.org/fpw

 

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