Halloween event focused on safety

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District volunteers Kyle Sharek and Angel Cisneros Thorsvold, who are enrolled in the Fire Science program at Central Oregon Community College, incorporated their Fire Science class project with the annual Halloween event. As a part of their project, Angel and Kyle managed the fire safety booth, which focused on Halloween safety for kids and also fire and life safety around their home. "We interacted with 144 children at the fire safety and prevention booth and want to congratulate them for being prepared for fire and life safety emergency situations."

Cisneros Thorsvold and Sharek wanted to know how the community is doing in fire and safety prevention education, especially in regards to Halloween, and how the Fire Safety and Prevention program at Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District can focus events for the future. Their goal was to let kids know the importance of awareness in fire and safety with prevention and awareness being key components.

As a part of their class project, each child who visited the booth would spin the fire prevention game wheel, which had important questions they felt children in the community should know. If they answered the question correctly, they won a prize. Below are a few of the results of those questions:

Of the children participating in the game,

• 80 percent knew to get out of the house when they hear a smoke alarm,

• 80 percent knew to call 9-1-1 in case of an emergency, and

• Over 80 percent knew the best places to place smoke alarms around their homes.

While Cisneros Thorsvold and Sharek were happy with the percentage of correct answers, they did find a few areas as a community we can improve upon to keep our families safe, and have passed along that information to the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District's Fire Safety Manager and prevention personnel:

• Have your child wear a costume that does not pose a trip hazard.

• Wear masks that children can see out of easily.

• Use a flashlight at night and reflective wear on costume such as reflective tape, glow sticks, and/or a reflective trick or treat bag so drivers and other people can see you.

• Finally, use glow sticks or battery lights instead of candles inside pumpkins.

These are just a few things to keep in mind so for next year so kids and their families stay safe and everyone can have fun.