Ford City Pre-K No Longer Afraid of Firefighters
Ford City Assistant Fire Chief Bill Oleksak talked with Pre-K students before-and-after he dressed up in full gear to show them not to be afraid if firefighters approach them during an emergency. The school visit to Ford City Pre-K on 3rd Avenue was the first trip of the school year.
by Jonathan Weaver
Ford City Fire Chief Ron Wojcik and Assistant Fire Chief Bill Oleksak went on their first field trip of the school year yesterday morning.
Oleksak wore a blue St. Vincent Fire Department T-shirt and shorts for most of Thursday, but for about 20 minutes, ‘Firefighter Billy’ dressed in his full turnout gear to show nearly 20 Pre-K students not to be afraid of him or other firefighters should they be in an emergency situation.
Wife, Michele told the three-and-four year olds to think of the fire gear as similar to a Halloween costume they might wear next month.
“This suit keeps ‘Firefighter Billy’ protected, but he’s going to look different. You might sound a little different if you’re wearing a mask, but after all this stuff he puts on, he’s still just ‘Firefighter Billy – nothing to be scared of.”
Oleksak said more school presentations with local daycares, Divine Redeemer and Head Start classes are coming next month.
“If you think of what we look like, if you’re a young kid and are in a dark room and see that coming at you, that could be really scary,” Oleksak said. “That could be a terrifying thing, so I really like to try and make them feel comfortable around a fully-geared fireman.”
Oleksak recalled a structure fire in the 700 block of 6th Avenue when firefighters had to save children from the roof of a house.
“The children responded real-well – this was after we started this program,” Oleksak said. “The children came to the fireman and responded very well.”
Students also got to sit inside the red fire engine, ring the fire bell and received a coloring book, sticker and their own red fire hats - courtesy of State Farm Agent Ryan Sikora.
Pre-K Head Teacher Crystal Long has taught at the Ford City location for eight years. She said students enjoyed the visit from “Firefighter Billy” to reinforce their lessons about fire safety.
“We talked about what not to play with to start fires, and all the things firefighters do,” Long said.
Ford City firefighters also invited students to come to the 4th Avenue fire station for their annual ‘Fire Safety Night’ from 5:30-7:30PM Thursday, October 1to see the fire trucks again and view a fire demonstration. Local police, emergency medical responders and officials from the ACMH Foundation are also expected to have activities that evening.
‘Fire Prevention Week’ is celebrated October 4-10.
Local News | jweaver September 25, 2015
