I shared with the children that there are many safety devices in our classroom. I talked about each one (pointing them out in the classroom). Some of the devices are...
1. Emergency lighting (in case the power goes out)
2. First Aid kit (bandages, thermometer, ice packs, etc)
3. Fire Extinguisher (puts out fire) *They all don't have water in them
4. Smoke detector (Smells smoke and then buzzes to let us know)
5. Carbon Monoxide Detector (it smells fumes that we can't smell)
6. Fire Alarm (a grown up/teacher can pull it in case there is a fire or an emergency)
When, we saw, the fire department (ambulance and truck) pull into the driveway, we put on our coats. We reviewed what we were going to do when the buzzer went off (line up quietly and walk through Ms. Lynn's classroom to the basketball court. Line up and then I would take attendance). We then heard the "alarm" go off. We stopped briefly in the hall to look at the flashing light (that was also "buzzing"). The children did a great job staying together and walking safely to the basketball court. Then they did a wonderful job saying "here I am!" loudly as they raised their hand when their name was called.
After, we practiced the "primary" route with the fire department. We then practiced the "secondary" route (on our own). We talked about if there was ever a reason we couldn't go out Ms. Lynn's door, we would go out our backdoor and through our garden to the parking lot, then through the gate to the basketball court. While we were outside, the fire department, put on the siren so that we could hear them. So cool! : )