Earlier this week, Swain Campus first grade teacher and former volunteer firefighter for Whitehall Township Fire Department, Mrs. Monahan, visited students in preschool, first, and second grade to take the fear out of fire safety. She was assisted by Chris Steitz, a Catasauqua Fire Department volunteer.

Mrs. Monahan was a volunteer firefighter for over 10 years and started visiting our younger students to help them realize that behind the big scary gear, was a friendly and helpful person who wants to keep them safe. She wanted the young children to understand that in an emergency, they should not run away and hide from the firefighters just because they look and sound scary. Firefighters are just people who want to help them and keep their families safe.

They learned that firefighter uniforms come in different colors and students were able to try on many parts of the gear. They also learned how to properly evacuate their house during a fire by getting low and staying low, the importance of "get out and stay out," and finding their family meeting place. 

Not only did these children learn a valuable lesson in fire safety, they also are beginning to develop an understanding and appreciation for our first responders and the jobs they do to keep us all safe.