Fire Extinguisher Refills

While on holiday in South Africa the fire extinguishers at the farm needed their annual maintenance check up and service. Bayteck drove to the farm and we were able to see the process.

 First each cylinder is checked for pressure and whether the powder is compacted.

 If the powder within is compacted the cylinder is emptied of it's contents.

 New powder is measured and poured back into the cylinder.

 The nozzle is refitted and the cylinder is re pressured.

 The cylinder is then washed and new stickers adhered with expiry dates and inspection dates.

There are a few types of extinguishers on the market today.

Source

When you use a fire extinguisher remember to PASS

Source

 An interesting look at the history and types have a look at Wikipedia, Atwood Fire and Security, Fire Safety Advice Center,

That sums up our fire safety explorations.
Blessings
Chareen

TT - Fire Safety Resources

 Welcome to Tuesdays Treasures.  I started these posts as a way of sharing great books in honour of my friend in New Zealand who would arrive with the treasures she had unearthed at her weekly trip to the library!

There are so many wonderful books out there hiding on shelves so I invite you to blog about a book on your shelf, one you're reading or one you found at the library and add your post to Learning All the Time Favourite Resource Link Up. 

This week ...
we have been studying fires and fire safety here at home.   I thought I would share the resources we have used.

Field Trips

• Fire Services Museum Victoria.
• Fire Safety Display at Eastern Hill Fire Station.
• A Firetastic day visit at Werribee Station.
• Fire Extinguisher Refilling.

Craft

• Finger Firefighters.
• Paper cup Firefighter.

From our Library.

• Fire, Friend or Enemy ? by Kingfisher Kaleidoscopes.
• Look Inside Machines - Fire Fighters - Jon Kirkwood (Sir N's favourite book)
• In Time of Need - Fire by Sean Connolly
• Learning Ladders - Community Helpers by World Book
• Fire Service by Margaret Metz
• Fire Services by Nicolas Brasch

Experiment

• We did the Fire Safety experiment that Erica shared on Confessions of a Homeschooler.

On YouTube

• Home Fire Safety (with Captions)
• Firefighter George & Fire Engines Vol 2
• Friendly Fireman Kids Safety Video.
• Fire Fighter Gear with Sparky the Fire Dog.
• Fire Extinguisher Safety.

Notebook Pages

• Our inspiration came from Shower of Roses and Pinterest.  
• The notebook page links have moved and we found them at Home School Helper on Line.
• Smoke Detectors
• Four Steps to Fire Safety.
• Never hide from Fireman.
• Our Families Escape Plan.
• Our Meeting Spot.
• Getting out safety.
• Emergency numbers
• Stop. Drop. Roll.
• What to do with burns.
• Trace and Colour for a Fireman Theme.
• Fire Safety Colouring Page.
• Word Find.
• Puzzles and Mazes.
• Word Games.
• Colouring Sheets.

On the WWW

• Learning about the Alphabet: F is for Fire Safety contains a fabulous list of resources and suggestions as well as many hands on tutorial links to make learning about fire safety fun.
  
• Flash Games.  Learn about fire safety at home and in the bush. 
• Kids Fire Safety Links and Worksheets.
• History Snapshot of the CFA.  Great visual timeline of firefighting history.
• Fire Safety over at Kindergarten Nana.  Full page of links to crafts and activities.
• Firesafe Kids on CFA website.

We have had a great time exploring fire safey.  Can you recommend any fire safety sites for us to visit ?

Blessings

This post is linking with 

Learning ALL the Time!!! - Favourite Resources.
Homegrown Learners - Collage Friday

Fire Services Museum Victoria

After an informative fire safety morning at Eastern Hill Fire Station we went next door to explore the Fire Services Museum.

This museum is open to the public on
Thursday & Friday 9 am - 3 pm
Sundays 10 am - 4 pm
Groups on other days by prior arrangement.
Admission fees do apply.

There are many interesting things to explore in this museum and it's an adventure to behold just on it's own.  I will let the photo's tell the stories of some of the treasures we saw.

 This is an "Austin" serries II front mounted pumper. It was placed in service in 1952 in Ararat Urban Fire Brigade. It made it's way to the museum in 1984. It pumps 350 gal per min and the first aid tank holds 120 gal. It carried a crew of eight.

 Top left - a variety of hand chemical extinguishers. The portable fire extinguisher was first developed in 1816 to replace the buckets of water that were stored in buildings for protection against fires. Captain Manby is given the credit for it's design which contained three gallons of water which was pressurized by a hand pump to expel it's contents.
The first soda acid fire extinguisher was deomnstrated at the 1851 Great Exhibition of London
Bottom right - This is an 1880's hydrolic pump which was used to test the Soda Acid and Foam extinguishers to an internal pressure of 300 lb/sq in every four years.

 One of the volunteers took out a brass helmet for us to try on.  These were used in the service until the early '70's

Left - St Florin the Patron Saint of Fireman. He was a roman fireman in Austria. When he became a Christian he was sentenced to death in 305 AD.
Top Right - United Kingdom Cap badges follow a basic pattern, an 8 pointed star upon which is the county arms or crest.
The points have individual significance and depict the qualities of a Fireman - Tact, Perseverence, Gallantry, Observation, Dexterity, Explicitness, Sympathy,

We finished the day with a tour upstairs of the emergency phone network and operations centre from days gone by.

It was a wonderful couple of hours of exploring the history of fire services in Australia.

Have you been here ?  Do you have a museum like this near you ?

Blessings
Chareen

Eastern Hill Fire Station Visit.

Metropolitan Fire Station (Eastern Hill Fire Station) Source: Wikimedia Commons

Friday was a wonderful day spent out at the Melbourne Fire Station at Eastern Hill.  They have a weekly fire safety display that I highly recommend you take your children to see.

The day started with an explanation of how to vacate a burning building. Crawl Low.

 

One of the Fireman got dressed in all his protective gear and let the children hear what it sounds like when he is breathing through his mask and encouraged them not to be afraid of a fireman if he looks likes this and not to hide but come to him as he is there to help them. The children then had a race with the fireman to see who could get into their gear the fastest as the crew need to be on the road in 90 seconds.

Next on the list was how to use a Fire Extinguisher and Fire Blanket.

The crew brought out the jaws of life and explained that they sometimes need to use these to help people who are stuck in their cars after an accident and not to be afraid.













From here the display shifted to the "Dolls House" where someone need rescuing from a burning building.  The crew arrived with sirens blaring, and proceeded to demonstrate a rescue.









Finally it was play time with the water and time to explore the fire engines!

This was a truly worth while experience.  We had a delightful time together.  From here we walked around the corner to the Firefighters Museum.

Have you visited your local fire brigade recently ?  Do you have your fire plan in place and do your children know what to do or where to go if there is a fire in your home ?

Blessings
Chareen

It was a Firetastic Day

Yesterday we had the most amazing day!  It was full to over flowing with experiences !

The day started with a friends Fireman themed birthday party.  It was so much fun seeing all the little people enjoying the wonderful food and fellowship.

After a good play together we all headed to the local CFA firestation to meet the people who work there.

As we arrived at the station this truck returned from being out.

They graciously opened all the side compartments for us to have a look at and took out a breathing kit for the children to touch.

Then it was time to hold a hoze and play with some water !  Every little fireman's dream.

Sir N had such a delightful time and so did I watching him learn through experience.  I have spent the day looking through Pinterest to find some ideas to help me do a follow up week on fire safety.  In January we made finger firefighters which was super easy and fun.


Have you visited your local fire station (department) and what have you used to teach fire safety in your home ?

In Sir N's words:  "Mom, it was a Firestastic Day!"

Blessings
Chareen