It doesn’t have to be Halloween for firefighters to dress up. Teaching little kids not to be scared of firefighters in their gear is the mission and main message these first responders want to get across.
The firefighters from Station #3 in Farmers Branch showed Wee Can Academy preschoolers at the Carrollton/Farmers Branch campus what they look like in their full gear and explained to the children that they are there to help them if they are trapped in a fire. They wanted the kids to recognize a firefighter in all their gear as a friend and someone they can trust to give them directions to escape or pick them up and carry them from danger if needed.
“Firefighters can look very big and threatening to little kids and it is important that preschoolers learn early on that they are there to help them,” said Patricia Magallanes, Director of Wee Can Academy Carrollton/Farmers Branch. “We are thankful for our firefighter heroes keeping us safe and educating our young preschoolers about fire safety and to not be afraid if someone dressed in those clothes enters their home.”
The preschoolers were spellbound watching a firefighter put on his full gear and breathe from an oxygen tank. They were able to touch his thick jacket, look at his face through his helmet and headgear, learn about the tools they carry into a fire and ask him questions. The highlight of the morning was when the children climbed into the station’s engine and got to see what it is like to sit in a real fire truck. Each child also received a plastic firefighter helmet to take home.