Mickey Starling
reporter3@greenepublishing.com
On Saturday, Aug. 15, kids of all ages enjoyed learning about fire safety and ambulance services at Touch-a-Truck, held at the Emergency Medical Services station, in Madison. Chief Allen Clayton and Public Relations Director Jason Matchett were on hand with numerous firefighters and EMTs to give valuable information and hands-on training to the kids to help them stay safe.
This event was proof that learning can be fun, as Matchett and others taught the kids how to use a fire extinguisher and operate a fire hose. The children had the opportunity to put out fires and feel the force of the powerful fire hoses. Some of the kids practiced aiming the hoses at this reporter, which helped to cool things off on a warm Saturday morning.
Once all the fires were out, the kids jumped into the back of an ambulance to learn about the latest equipment the vehicle had for emergency medical situations. Then, it was off to take an imaginary drive in the fire truck. These were just a few of the things provided to instruct and entertain the kids. This up-close experience will be something the kids will remember for years to come and they may even save a life with the insights they gained during the day. "We will continue to do this as long as one kid shows up," said Clayton. "It's important that kids get this kind of training as soon as possible."