Cosmo Bedafe Centre visited Tirisano-Mmogo Primary School to teach learners about the ‘Learn Not To Burn’ (LNTB) programme.
The programme is taught by the public information education and relations section of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services and
is aimed at young and vulnerable children from four years old. They learn about fire safety, emergency numbers and what to do in case of a fire.
It includes lessons such as, crawl low under smoke; stop, drop and roll; emergency numbers; cool a burn; and what’s hot and what not, to name a few.
Station commander Theresa de Klerk said it is known that children, when in a fire situation, are scared and confused, and they tend to try and hide from the fire.
‘” They are often found under beds and in closets where they are overcome by smoke. The programme ‘Firefighter is my friend’ introduces children to the protective gear firefighters wear in a fire. If a child knows what a firefighter looks like when coming to the fire, they are not afraid to come out from hiding places.”
Children learn by copying behaviour, singing and repeating. The lessons are presented in a fun and interactive way. They are very visual; behaviours are demonstrated and repeated and some have songs to enhance the message.
“Kids love to go home and tell about the fun experience that happened and what they have learnt, showing off with new behaviour and songs learnt. We found out that the lessons become trends and get passed to other children in the community.”
She added that the programme at Trisano-Mmogo Primary School was an amazing and successful event. “There was a tangible excitement in the air. The learners were like little sponges, just absorbing the information. I left with a grateful heart, to know that the messages I brought, will keep the young ones safe.”
These programmes are taught at Early Childhood Development Centres (pre-primary schools) and the intermediate phase at primary schools (Grade 1–5). For older learners, there is a different programme that is more detailed and done over two days, including basic fire safety, firefighting, evacuation, first aid and CPR.
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