LaCosta Mom's Firestation Tour

The president of our LaCosta Moms group arranged a tour of Fire Station #5 in Carlsbad. Will was very excited about this, as were a lot of other kids in the group...I think it was the biggest turnout for an event yet...those firetrucks sure are something...or maybe its the FIREFIGHTERS that drew the big crowd...I mean the kids have to be brought to the station somehow...and I noticed a lot of very willing moms. The firetrucks weren't the only thing getting "wows" and googley eyes. :-)
Will has 3 uncles that are firefighters, Uncle Jon, Uncle Todd and Uncle Mark...so Will has always known a lot about this profession and has admired it so...but this was his first tour. (Other than the time Uncle Jon took him to his station when he was about 9 months old, back then Will would sit in the truck and "drive." This time I couldn't even bribe Will to get in the driver's seat.)

Buddies, Will and Harrison

Getting lined up to go see the trucks

This is called the "safe zone," if the station gets a call and has to take the trucks out while we are there, we all go to this spot.

According to Will's book, this is called a tiller truck. It has a driver in front and back.

Look at Mr. Joe Cool, give me a break.

Them trucks have some BIG bumpers.

One of the men showed the kids how he gets all his gear on...this is important b/c a lot of kids are scared of firefighters when they have all their "turnout" gear on. So they want kids to see that it's just a person with protective clothing on. The firefighter is handing out high 5's.

She's got a little more growing to do. (Notice the word "Paramedic" on the truck. Carlsbad firefighters elected to make all firefighters paramedics. Usually this is extra training and most districts have a select few who are also paramedics. Not Carlsbad, they all are.)

Important things to talk about with your kids: What to do if the house is smokey (crawl on the floor to an exit). Touch doors to see if they are hot, if so, don't open them. Decide on a safe spot outside away from the house where the whole family will meet if there is a fire (mailbox, tree, etc). Stop Drop and Roll. Take your kids to a station so they can see a firefighter get dressed. So many kids hide b/c in a dark smokey house a firefighter who is much larger than a person b/c of gear and talks like darth vador b/c of the oxygen tank is very very scary. Teach them to never ever run or hide from a firefighter. And of course, teach them 911.