“Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere.”
That was the theme across the country for National Fire Prevention Week, which this year, took place during the week of October 7. It was also the message stressed by members of the Westmoreland Fire Department to the Westmoreland Primary Elementary School’s students. 
The fire prevention and public education team from the department, like it does every year, visited the Primary Elementary School on October 17. The team spent the morning at the school, stressing the importance of fire safety.
Each kindergarten, first grade and second grade class, along with United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) and BOCES students, participated in a presentation on “Stop, Drop and Roll,” toured the Oneida County Department of Emergency Services’ safety house - - which includes a number of visual safety reminders - - and had the opportunity to take a look at some of the Westmoreland Fire Department’s apparatus. The Kindergarten, UCP and BOCES students were also treated to a puppet show.
“An important part of this year’s theme was stressing to our students that fire can really happen anywhere when you least expect it,” Mrs. O’Connell, Primary Elementary School principal, said. “Even though we are learning about fire safety in school, we stressed the importance of having an escape plan at home, where there is a greater chance of a fire occurring.”
The theme, “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere,” works to educate people about three basic, but essential steps, to take to reduce the likelihood of having a fire - - and how to escape safely in the event of one:
· LOOK – Look for places fire could start. Take a good look around your home. Identify potential fire hazards and take care of them.
· LISTEN – Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm. You could only have minutes to escape safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Go to your outside meeting place, which should be a safe distance from the home and where everyone should know to meet.
· LEARN – Learn two ways out of every room and make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily and are free of clutter.
The Primary Elementary School thanks the Westmoreland Fire Department for its time, dedication and valuable lessons!