Although there are no female members of Morrison Fire Department at this time, First Assistant Chief Joe Bielema was surrounded by possible future candidates. Girl Scout Brownie Troop #1504 went to the source–seeking firefighter and safety information–to earn their “Hot Stuff” and Brownie First Aid badges and complete the Brownie Safety Award.
Clockwise around the table, from bottom left, are Allie A.; Annabelle B.; Leslie C.; parent Jennifer Chambers; Page M.; Brooklynn K.; Yvette S.; Co-leader Tracy Banks-Geiger; Alayna Z.; standing, Peyton L.; Annaleise C.; Maya W.; parent Andrea Wakeman; Gwen G.; Co-leader Hillary Blevins.
They met at Morrison Fire Station, 206 W. Main Street, Morrison, IL, from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on Monday, November 9, 2015, and learned a lot. The “Hot Stuff” badge included information about being a firefighter and fire safety. Girls learned the history of the Jackson Hose Company and firefighter training. They examined a plethora of photographs in the meeting room. Bielema gave each girl a booklet of “exit drills in the house,” with the acronym E.D.I.T.H. They carefully practiced “stop, drop, and roll,” after the fireman shared an experience about a family member who suffered burns, but used the technique to smother flames.
He prepared them for a lights-out experience of being in a dark house on fire. Two Probationary Members of MFD, Tim West, left, and Tony Belha entered the room in full gear with bright lights and eerie-sounding air packs. The girls enthusiastically practiced appropriate screams for help. They commented on the Darth Vader sound!
Bielema explained, with lights on, that noise was the men breathing through their air pack. Children should run toward that sound if the situation occurred. West’s lime green, shoulder beeper went off, as he stood still listening to Bielema. This is a safety “alarm” if firefighters become immobile during a fire call. If one does not move every few seconds, the beeper alerts his comrades to seek him.
A tour of the truck bay and its engines made for a dress up opportunity. Banks-Geiger and 11 Brownies are shown left-to-right: Page M.; Leslie C.; front, Alayna Z.; back, Peyton L.; Brooklynn K.; Gwen G.; Annaleise C.; Allie A.; Yvette S. Kneeling in front are Maya W. and Annabelle B.
Morrison Community Hospital paramedics Lisa and Kurt arrived at the end of the evening. They told what happens during an ambulance ride. Discussed were instruments and equipment inside the emergency vehicle and other equipment stored in outside compartments–like a child car set. Each Brownie Girl Scout was allowed to enter. Left-to-right are Yvette S., Allie A., and Gwen G.
