Kids at Reynolds Elementary School participated in a new kind of lesson Monday; fire and gun safety.
Toledo Police and Fire and Rescue officers spoke to students about what to do if they find a gun or matches. They said planning ahead is the key to safety.
"When you go home, when you go to your friend's house, when you go to your aunt and uncle, your job is to check everybody's smoke alarm, ya know. So we know it when we start really early it takes a little bit for that to sink in, so we start in preschool. We do real short things. As they get up to second and third grade that becomes a little more set in stone to them,” said Dennis Kookoothe, Fire Education Officer with Toledo Fire and Rescue.
Toledo Fire and Rescue's visit to Reynolds marked one in a series of classroom visits this week. The department is raising awareness during fire prevention week.
They said people often feel safest in their homes, yet it's the place they are at greatest risk to fire. Four out of five US fire deaths occur at home. Toledo Fire and Rescue wants people to be proactive when it comes to escape planning. It's a message educators are happy to see shared with students.