Fire Prevention Week

Today marks the final day of Fire Prevention Week. Although fun, it is a busy & exhausting week at the fire station. And, in spite of the fact that I am not actually a fire fighter, I couldn't pass up on the opportunity to step out into the community and tout my profession to some degree.
Fire prevention week falls every October in the Sunday-Saturday time period which contains the 9th of October. The history behind Fire Prevention Week dates back to 1871. However, only in recent years has this week of public safety been so widely spread.
There are 2 sides to the Fire Prevention Week coin. It is a week in which we, as public safety professionals reach out to our community, especially the young ones and help them to recognize their role in fire safety and preventing fires. Smiling firefighters can be found throughout schools across the nation showing off their trucks and other cool gear to wide-eyed elementary students. And, in all honesty, we have a lot of fun doing it. But it is also a somber week in which flags fly at half-mast and we recognize those who have fallen in the line of duty.

Our week of activities took us to 2 different elementary schools where we gave fire prevention and safety speeches to over 700 students ranging from preschool to 3rd grade. We hit the ground running Monday morning and wrapped up our week's activities with an open house at our main station on Thursday night. We put our ambulance and most of our fire trucks on display and let everyone climb in and look around. There were lots of questions. I love the look of wonderment from a kindergartner when they learn for the first time what an ambulance really does.
I have never felt more like a super-hero than I did this past week. As I have said before, I work in an EMS/Fire Support position for our service. I do not run into burning buildings or spray water from huge hoses. I hang back and, when things go sideways, I'm there to render aid. So, I don't really feel like a firefighter. I do, however, adore our firefighters and try to help out wherever I can. Nonetheless, this week no one cared, about my distinction. I was their hero too.
I have long said I do not do what I do for the recognition. I do it because I love it and I try to have as modest of a viewpoint of myself and my skill set as I reasonably can. No one cared about that this week either.
Untold numbers of people came up to me and hugged me and thanked me for my service to the community. Their gratitude nearly brought me to tears. I am just another human being doing what I love. But to know how much a total stranger loves you just because you are willing to help them in their time of need is overpowering.
It's actually a bit disheartening now that Fire Prevention Week is coming to a finish. I love being an educator as well as an advocate. This week has given me a chance to do both. Although, Fire Prevention Week rolls around only once per year, there are other teaching moments that arise throughout the year whether they be special events or just an appropriate situation. And I will embrace each & every one of them.