Wilson Life Safety Adventure House

Summary

The script describes the creation of a fire and life safety adventure house, inspired by an interactive Epcot Center display. It features technology and interactive activities to educate visitors on hazards and safety measures in various home environments. The house is equipped with safety demonstrations, including a sprinkler system and second egress training, aiming to raise awareness and potentially save lives. The project was funded through grants and community support, showcasing the dedication of firefighters and the community's investment in safety education.

Takeaways

• 🏠 The idea for the fire life safety adventure house originated from a visit to Epcot Center in Orlando, where an interactive fire hazard display inspired the project.
• 🤖 The house incorporates advanced technology and interactive activities to engage children and teach them about safety hazards.
• 🧩 The house features various safety demonstrations, such as trip hazards on stairs, which children can correct by putting toys away, teaching both children and parents about prevention.
• 🍳 In the kitchen, safety measures include childproofing cooking ranges with knobs and pot handle shields, and educating on how to handle a burning pan properly.
• 🛁 The bathroom is equipped with safety features like rails for toddlers, tub pads to prevent head injuries, and water spout covers to avoid injuries from sharp edges.
• 🔥 A space heater in the attic was repurposed to demonstrate a potential fire hazard, teaching visitors about the dangers of drying clothes over heaters.
• 🚪 The bedroom showcases a Dutch door with a heating element underneath, illustrating the importance of being cautious with heat sources near doors and knobs.
• 🔗 The house is fully sprinklered to demonstrate the effectiveness of sprinkler systems and educate on how to retrofit a house with PVC piping for sprinklers.
• 🧯 A sprinkler demonstration booth is used to dispel myths about sprinkler systems, showing that they activate only where needed, not all at once.
• 🔑 The adventure house serves as a learning center with eight interactive stations available online, tailored for different groups to learn about safety.
• 🏗️ The project was funded without using the city's budget, relying on community support, grants, and the dedication of firefighters who contributed their labor and innovation.

Q & A

What was the inspiration behind the creation of the fire life safety adventure house?

The idea for the fire life safety adventure house came from a visit to the Epcot Center in Orlando, where an interactive fire display by Disney allowed people to identify fire and safety hazards in a house.

What is the main purpose of the interactive activities in the house?

The main purpose of the interactive activities is to incorporate technology and engage visitors, especially children, in learning about fire and safety hazards, and how to correct them.

How does the house demonstrate the dangers of trip hazards on stairs?

The house shows a stairway with toys on it, and visitors, especially children, are encouraged to put the toys away as a corrective action, while parents learn how to prevent such hazards with safety measures like gates.

What safety measures are suggested for the kitchen range to prevent accidents?

The house suggests using knobs with shields to prevent children from turning them and installing pot handle guards to keep children from grabbing hot pots, as well as teaching adults to handle burning pans safely.

How does the house address bathroom safety for young children?

The house shows safety measures such as temporary rails for children to hold onto when getting in and out of the bathtub, tub pads to prevent head injuries from falls, and covers for water spouts to prevent injuries from hitting metal fixtures.

What was the original purpose of the space heater found during the renovation?

The space heater was originally used in the attic of the house to keep pipes warm.

How was the space heater repurposed to demonstrate a safety hazard?

The heating elements were removed from the space heater, and a light was installed to simulate it being on. It was staged in the bedroom to show the hazard of drying clothes over it or having loose clothing close to it.

What is the significance of the Dutch door in the bedroom?

The Dutch door is constructed with a heating element underneath it, simulating a warm surface that can be felt by touching the knob filled with steel wool, demonstrating the potential for heat-related hazards.

How does the house teach about the importance of a second egress?

The house includes a chain ladder for a second way out through a window in the living room, aiming to teach visitors the importance of having an alternative escape route in case of emergencies.

What is the role of the sprinkler system in the house?

The house is fully sprinklered to demonstrate how sprinklers work and to educate visitors on the importance of having a sprinkler system in buildings. It also includes a display to show how to retrofit a house with PVC piping for sprinklers.

How was the fire life safety adventure house funded without using the city's budget?

The house was funded through an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) in 2007, community support, and a cash donation from the Wilson Fire Protection Services Association, totaling over $8,000.

What was the initial challenge faced by the fire department when they decided to create the center?

The initial challenge was the city council's condition that the fire department should not ask for money to create the center, which led to the need for innovative solutions and community support.

How does the house address the importance of safety in different rooms?

The house identifies potential hazards such as trip hazards, fire hazards, and poisoning hazards in every room and provides demonstrations on how to be aware and mitigate these risks.

What is the ultimate goal of the fire life safety adventure house?

The ultimate goal is to educate the community about safety and potentially save lives by increasing awareness and understanding of fire and safety hazards.