Firefighters take tips to Shakopee elementary students

Shakopee students who see firefighters in the hallways at school in the next few weeks shouldn’t necessarily run for the nearest exit. Fire Safety Week starts Monday and firefighters will be visiting area elementary schools to share fire safety tips.
This year’s theme is “Protect Your Family From Fire.”
In 2010, the Shakopee Fire Department responded to 557 calls for service, according to city staff. The calls ran the gamut from false alarms to traffic accident assistance to actual fires.

Things you can do to help protect your family from fire:
• Develop and practice an escape plan at home or when you are staying somewhere else. Identify two exits for each room and establish a meeting point for your family.
• Have working smoke alarms.Test your smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries annually.
• If possible, install sprinkler systems. Sprinklers may extinguish a fire completely or reduce the heat, flames and smoke, allowing more time to escape the home.
• Use caution when cooking and stay near the stove/oven when it’s in use. Most home fires begin as a result of cooking when equipment is left unattended. More fires start from electric stoves/ovens than gas ones.
• Use caution with fires and candles.

More fire prevention tips at www.ci.shakopee.mn.us/fire_tips.cfm or at www.firepreventionweek.org.