Kids fired up as learning put to work
Math and science are cool, and you’d better study hard.
That’s the message Spokane firefighters and paramedics brought to St. Charles Catholic School on Friday afternoon as they talked about their jobs and demonstrated their equipment.
Cries of “Cool!” frequently filled the air as students in fourth through eighth grades handled heat-resistant helmets, checked out huge fire hoses and peered through the lens of a thermal imaging camera.
“I can see all of you so I could see you in a fire,” said firefighter Jesse Ayotte of the heat sensing camera. “This can see through smoke.”
Paramedic Frank Wood talked about the importance of water pressure and explained how fire crews use different diameter hoses to pump water onto a fire. He told students that the truck carried 500 gallons of water and the 2½-inch diameter hose could pump out 250 gallons of water a minute. “How much time is that per hose?” he asked.
Paramedic Sherryl Hart told students she needed to be able to figure out medication doses quickly based on a person’s weight. “All the basic things we learned in grade school we use everyday ” she said. “I need to be very good at science.”
The visit by the crew from Station 13 was meant to give the students an idea of how they may one day use what they are learning in school now, said St. Charles Principal Skip Bonuccelli. Each Friday is an enrichment day for older students to learn about possible careers. “Each month we’re going to do something that’s just a little out of the ordinary,” Bonuccelli said.
Spokane Fire Department Battalion Chief Steve Sabo said the department visits an average of one or two schools a week to teach fire safety and speak at assemblies. It helps the department because children learn not to be intimidated if they should see a firefighter in full gear. “It’s just to help further education,” he said. “They might learn some fire safety facts.”
The students seemed to be impressed. During recess before the demonstration began, 6-year-old Hunter Angstrom boldly walked up to Sabo, introduced himself and gave his age. He circled around Sabo, checking out the radio and pager attached to Sabo’s belt. “He just wanted to look,” Sabo said.
After listening to the firefighters and paramedics talk, Melissa Bethel had a new appreciation for their job. “It’s cool,” said Bethel, 11. “It’s harder than I thought it would be. You have to know so much science.”
“The firefighter business is just amazing,” said Julia Gunderson, 11.
The students clapped and cheered after watching Ayotte and Jher Fuller send a stream of water over the playfield during the equipment demonstration.
The two men took a bow.
“This is how Mr. Bonuccelli saves money watering the lawn,” Sabo said.