Scouts visit to the Fire Department- Tiger: Safe and Smart requirement #6

Recently we visited our local Fire Department!

And the kids had a blast.
We did this for our Safe and Smart adventure.

 We only have 2 official cub scouts and one member who comes to the meetings but hasn't signed up yet. Also we have 2 little sisters that join us for the meetings. So we had 5 kids visit the Fire Station. I am really thankful there wasn't more because it was hard to keep the kids in line. They wanted to run around and do their own tour but we, the parents, kept making them come back to listen to our guide.

So, when we 1st arrived, we had one member we had to still wait on. The kids were bored and we let them run around the front of the building to try to get some energy out. While this was going on, our den leader was asking our tour guide a lot about Fire Station  #9. We found out that they have volunteers and paid workers. All the training is free. Our guide is on a fast track course to become an EMT, which he says is a lot to learn. He has been with he fire department 13 years. 2 paid and the rest volunteer. He has his own company that started taking up a lot of time so he switched to volunteering. So it was really nice of him to come out at 6:30pm to give some scouts a tour!

We also learned that volunteers are always welcome. And they love when people bring them meals.

So once our final member came, we started our tour. Each child received a Fire fighter's hat. Boys received a red hat, girls a pink.

 We started in the building, showing us the meeting room, where they do reports, the living room, the bedroom, and we glanced at the work out room. 

Then we checked out the actual trucks. Each truck is with the company about 10 years and then replaced. But they have to take really good care of them. This particular Fire Station had 2 trucks and 2 EMT vehicles. The first truck was for emergency's on the ground. It had hoses, ladders, jaws of life, lots of axes, lots of fire extinguishers, first aid bags for any situation, and just a lot of stuff. The 2nd truck had a ladder that extends on the top. Of coarse the kids wanted on that but ALL the adults were like," heck no."

But our guide did let the kids in the fire truck, which was a big highlight!

Then he showed them the thermal scanner. It helps the fire fighters know how hot the fire is or where it is. He demonstrated by having teh kids put their hands on the wall and leave it there for a minute. Then he showed them how the heat from their hands were on the screen. The boys laughed and thought it was so cool.

After that, the guide gave each kid a bag that had colors, stickers, a safety coloring book, ect.

We let the kids loose again on the parking lot while the parents had a lot more questions. 

All in all, one of the best den meetings we have had.

Thank you for your service and the great tour Fire Station  #9....from den #9!