Lowe's Safety Saturday
September, 25th marked the third annual Lowe’s Safety Saturday. The Home Safety Council, Lowe’s employees and fire and rescue personnel united for a day of family safety planning.
Deana Petersen, administrative manager of Lowe’s has been coordinating the event since it was first introduced to the Rogue Valley in 2007. The event was created to supply information and education to families looking to create a safer home environment. Multiple safety stations were setup throughout the parking lot including: teaching children how to use tools, bike safety, teen driving, walking home from school safely and much more. The event was a huge success with will over 300 attendees.
Among the many educational displays, Rogue Valley Fire Prevention Cooperative members along with the State Fire Marshal’s office provided three fire safety stations; a fire safety trailer, fire sprinkler trailer and a table top safety display.
The fire safety trailer is a hands-on tool for children to recognize safety hazards and ways to mitigate them. This provided fire personnel the opportunity to discuss the importance of developing a family evacuation plan, checking smoke detectors and maintaining a safe household environment. At the end of the presentation the children participate in a simulated fire (consisting on fog which looks like smoke). They go through the steps of dropping to the ground and finding the safest escape route. Most parents found it a useful tool to discuss a meeting point in the even of a fire.
A firefighter helping a child escape through the window.
Families that went through the safety house proceeded to the table top display where the children could reiterate everything they had learned in the trailer; pointing out hazards and the actions to take. Parents participating in these demonstrations were able to see what areas of fire safety and emergency planning their families need to improve in.
Children learn about fire hazards using the table top display.
The final fire station included a fire sprinkler trailer which allowed viewers to witness a sprinkler system self engage to extinguish a trash and curtain fire. Viewers were excited to see the live demonstration, fire sprinklers are very effective life saving devices. According to the National Fire Protection Association, “more than one of three (36%) fatal fire victims never wake up before being injured.”
Volunteer working at the fire sprinkler trailer.
Lowe’s Safety Saturday is a great way to kick off National Fire Prevention month. This event is held each year on the third Saturday of September in the Lowe’s parking lot. Be sure to save the date for next year.