Fire Department Visits Matthew Paterson

For National Fire Prevention Week, the Patterson Fire Department No. 1 visited Matthew Paterson Elementary School to teach kids about fire safety and help familiarize them with emergency equipment so they could be less anxious in case of an actual emergency.  

EMT Foreman Susan McLaughlin, who came to Matthew Paterson in an ambulance, asked students in Jessica Curran’s first grade class when it might be appropriate to call 911.  

“If someone is bleeding or hurt,” one student said.  

“If there is a car accident or a fire,’ another added.   

Then McLaughlin pulled the stretcher out of the ambulance, asked first grader Abigail to climb aboard and called upon classmate Hunter to act as the doctor.  

“Ok, Dr. Hunter, you need to check your patient’s heart rate,” McLaughlin said, as she led the stethoscope to Abigail’s forehead.  

The class all laughed and yelled “No, that’s not where it goes.” McLaughlin scratched her head and put the stethoscope on Abigail’s foot to an even louder outcry from the first graders. Finally, she handed it over to Dr. Hunter, who placed the stethoscope on Abigail’s heart.  

“I heard her heart go ‘bump, bump,’” Hunter said. “And I heard her laughing.” 

Firemen Mike Silvers and Jay Barretto helped the children explore a fire engine (carries water) and a fire truck (carries ladders). Larry Maxwell, Carol Pocalli and Arturo Jara, who serve in the Fire Police division, showed the students how to set up safety barriers. 

While it all seemed like fun and games to the kids, the lessons were extremely serious.  

“We explain the importance of calling 911 in an emergency and talk about what an emergency is,” McLaughlin said. “We discuss what to do in the event of a fire and teach them to ‘Stop, Drop and Roll. We encourage them to make sure their family has picked a safe place to meet up in case they must leave their home.”