F.A.L.S.E. Alarm Gang Rides Again!
The Bedford Fire Department is pleased to present 
our Fire And Life Safety Educators (F.A.L.S.E. Alarm Gang). Each year these firefighters join together to teach the elementary school age children about fire life safety behaviors, they carry with them the rest of their lives.
The National Fire Protection Association announces the theme for the year to be presented to all the children, nationwide, every May. We then take this theme and the behaviors to the schools. The children are taught through alternative characterization, the skills and knowledge they need to keep themselves and their families safe.
This program is presented to approximately 5,000 school aged children each and every year. We try to make it exciting and new each year. Since we start with the kindergarteners and go through the sixth grade, these kids know all the clowns and the behaviors they will need to get them through the next crisis that comes up.
Almost every year, one of the clown troupe is sent to Bullhead City, Arizona to the Annual Clown College. This weeklong school is aimed specifically at firefighters and police officers that work with children. This enables us to keep up on the latest and greatest programs (read this as stealing their skits) being offered around the country by other departments. There is a workshop on make-up, puppeteering, building props, script writing, and of course lots of “clowning around.”
Some of the behaviors that have been taught are:
Always Have A Working Smoke Detector – Having a smoke detector has already proven to be a real life-saver. The main thing that people need to remember is; IF IT DOESN’T HAVE A BATTERY IN IT, IT WON’T WORK!
We like to teach everyone to “change their batteries whenever you change your clocks.” We change our clocks twice a year, in the spring and fall, and that’s a good time to remember to change your batteries.
Know Two Ways Out – probably one of THE most important skills everyone needs to know. This the type of skill and knowledge we hope is traveling back to the parents. Having, and knowing, two ways out of your own house will enable parents to know their children are safe.
Crawl Low Under Smoke – This is where the “good” air is! Anytime there is a fire, smoke will rise to the ceiling. The floor is where the air will still be clear enough to buy you enough time to get out.