CAMP ZAMA, Japan (Oct. 16, 2014) -- Several Camp Zama youth members learned about fire safety and prevention, during "Fire Prevention Week" held on the Camp Zama and Sagamihara Family Housing Area installation, here, from Oct. 5 through Oct. 11.
Camp Zama and SFHA firefighters donned their fire protection gear and gave small presentations to the youth members at Arnn Elementary School and the SFHA Child Development Center.
Michiko Kato, fire protection inspector for the Directorate of Emergency Service, said that every year, the Camp Zama and SFHA Fire Departments go to Arnn Elementary to teach the students about the importance of fire prevention.
On Oct. 9, about 300 of Arnn Elementary students had the opportunity to see the inside and outside of a fire truck, control a high powered water hose, learn about fire alarms and visit with "Sparky" the fire prevention dog.
Kato said the purpose of the visit was to relay two important messages; "one is how to prevent fires, and two is how to react when a fire occurs."
Gabriel Savage, a 6th grader, said the presentation was good and it showed him how not to be scared when the firemen come to rescue someone.
"Don't play with fire, be more careful… and know what to do if there is a fire," said Savage.
Kato and other personnel from DES visited with youth at the SFHA Child Development Center on Oct. 9 in which firefighters demonstrated how they put on their protective gear.
"We are trying to teach children how not to be scared of firefighters," said Kato. "From time to time," Kato continued, "youth get scared and hide from firefighters when they try to rescue them."
Kato said by showing kids, step-by-step, how a firefighter transforms from a regular uniform to a firefighting suit, including the oxygen mask, can help kids know "firefighters are ordinary people like they are."
Also, the DES personnel put on a puppet show using Sesame Street characters while visiting the youth at the Child Development Center.
The theme for this year's Fire Prevention Week is "a working smoke alarm saves lives."
"Test yours every month," said Kato.
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