Published: Jul 14, 2024 08:00 AM
Newtown Hook & Ladder firefighter Rachael Gindraux visited Newtown Youth & Family Services (NYFS) on Tuesday, July 9 as a special guest for their Safety Town program to teach children about the importance of fire safety.
Safety Town is a one-week interactive safety education program that combines instruction and hands-on activities to teach children ages 4-7 invaluable life-saving lessons on topics such as traffic, stranger, poison, pedestrian, drug, playground, bus, fire, and water safety. All topics are taught in collaboration with local community and health agencies.
Gindraux taught students about what firefighters do, fire safety techniques like "stop, drop, and roll," the importance of having a designated safe place to evacuate to, and more. Students even got to see one of Newtown Hook & Ladder's firetrucks and spray water from its hose.
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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.
Newtown Hook & Ladder firefighter Rachael Gindraux (far left) taught students in Newtown Youth & Family Services' (NYFS) Safety Town program to teach children about the importance of fire safety. The program’s students were as excited to see a fire truck in person as they were to take a photo by one. —Bee Photos, Visca
NYFS Safety Town student Brynn Slater (pink dress, front) had some help from Newtown Hook & Ladder firefighter Rachael Gindraux as she sprayed water from the hose of the department’s firetruck. Everyone had a chance to spray water high into the air and low onto the pavement behind NYFS’ building. Gindraux guided the kids as they aimed the water, and was there to support them in case the water pressure started to be too much and push them back.
Newtown Hook & Ladder firefighter Rachael Gindraux (center) demonstrates the “stop, drop, and roll” fire safety technique with NYFS Safety Town students Luca DiIonio (left) and Emily Phillips. She taught everyone about the importance of not standing still and using “stop, drop, and roll” in case their clothing ever catches fire.
Students in the NYFS Safety Town program look on as Newtown Hook & Ladder firefighter Rachael Gindraux put on one of her department’s masks during her lesson. The students had an opportunity towards the end of the lesson to ask her questions about fire safety and what firefighters do.
