By natalie m. vena
OLD BRIDGE — A new fire safety trailer, created by township firemen, educates people of all ages about fire safety through entertaining, interactive exhibits.
The fire safety trailer, the brainchild of Thomas Gerity, fire marshal for districts 1, 2 and 4, was completed after 21/2 years of planning and building. Through the contributions of local businesses, approximately $35,000 was raised to buy and convert the custom-made trailer.
"A lot of thought and energy went into the design of the trailer," said Gerity, during a recent demonstration. "It’s worth its weight in gold."
Gerity’s idea was to create a fire safety trailer that could be used to educate local residents and children about how to safeguard their homes against potential fire-causing hazards and how to react should an actual fire occur.
Township firemen worked diligently with Gerity, setting up props inside the trailer to convey the messages of fire safety.
According to Gerity, some of the custom-made props were geared toward children as young as 2 years old.
"The idea is to entertain the children while their parents are learning about fire safety," Gerity said.
To teach children what to do in the event of a real fire, a child’s bedroom was constructed inside the trailer. Children are invited inside the bedroom, which is equipped with a bed, toys, window and special 911 telephone. After a volunteer instructs the children on what to do in case of a fire, simulated smoke is pumped into the chamber.
Next, the smoke detector goes off. Children are instructed to crawl on their hands and knees. They are then instructed to feel the bedroom door for heat before they open it; if the door is hot, they are instructed to use their second mode of escape, in this case, a bedroom window. After they escape the fire, the children are expected to meet at a previously designated meeting place, selected by their parents, usually a safe distance from the home.
The trailer is also equipped with a doll house to show onlookers how smoke travels throughout a house once a fire has started.
The doll house is fully furnished, with custom-made curtains and wall coverings and a fish tank, thanks to the decorating advice of Gerity’s secretaries. The electrical wiring was completed by Gerity’s 18-year-old son, Brian.
In the kitchen area of the doll house, a light in a garbage can starts blinking indicating a fire is starting. Smoke starts to rise out of the can, filling up the kitchen. The smoke is lighter than what actual smoke looks like, but still has the same effect — it is too thick to see where the telephone or door is, explained Ed Marks, District 4 fire commissioner.
The smoke rises throughout the doll house, staying out of rooms with closed doors, rising through stairwells until it reaches the top of the house. It is a scary lesson, seeing how quickly smoke can consume a house. Hopefully, people will learn what to do in the event of fire through lessons like these, Gerity explained.
Installed in the trailer are mock kitchens and bathrooms, as well as examples of wiring, outlets and dangerous chemicals. Gerity sets these props up high inside the trailer so adults would have to look up at them.
"I wanted adults to view it through the eyes of a child. This is the way a kitchen or bathroom looks to a 2- or 3-year-old," he said.
While parents are learning about fire safety, children have access to a number of buttons attached to a Lionel train that runs through a small village, which is equipped with its own firehouse and other buildings. Each button has a different function — one lights up tiny buildings while another starts up the firehouse equipped with firemen and a fire truck.
Exhibits geared toward adults include an actual, brand-new hot water heater, Flame Guard, manufactured by American Water Heater. The water heater received an award from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for its unique design. The water heater will not ignite if it detects a combustible gas or liquid in the area. According to Gerity, people store combustible liquids in their basement and garage areas and sometimes a loose top will allow dangerous vapors to escape causing a fire hazard. Installing this water heater could avoid dangerous explosions.
Also, most parents store dangerous chemicals in the kitchen area, below the sink.
"We get a lot of calls each year from parents whose children swallow dangerous chemicals," Gerity said. "For $7 to $8, parents can purchase magnetic locks at local stores and install them on kitchen and bathroom cabinets, prohibiting children from opening cabinets on their own."
The cabinets can only be opened with a special magnet.
A dryer display exhibits the hazards of lint build-up in household dryers.
"People do not realize that lint builds up on the bottom of the dryer creating a fire hazard," Gerity said.
According to Gerity, fireman respond to fires caused by lint buildup each year. A display recommends the use of hard vent piping, the best type of piping to use to avoid lint fires. Gerity recommends dryers be checked at least once a month for lint buildup.
Gerity is looking forward to displaying the trailer during Old Bridge Day in October and at other local events. The lifelong township resident is determined to pass on the message of fire safety.
"I want to thank my wife and all of the volunteers that helped me put together the trailer," Gerity said. "If it saves one life, it will be well worth the effort."