Students In Westchester County Learn About Fire Safety As Part Of National Fire Prevention Week

GOLDENS BRIDGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- It's National Fire Prevention Week and children across the country are learning to protect themselves in case they are ever caught in a fire.

At Increase Miller Elementary School in Westchester County students tried on 40 pounds of bunker gear and got a feel for what it's like to hold a fire hose. But the big emphasis was on having an escape plan and knowing exactly what to do if a fire breaks out, CBS2's Cindy Hsu reported.

"You don't want to go back in, I never knew that," 7-year-old Asher Courtenay said. "Don't hide under beds or closets and different things, and don't be scared of the people with all that stuff on," he said of the firefighters.

"If there's fire on you, you should stop drop and roll, and if there's smoke around your house you should crawl," 7-year-old Braydon Currid said.

Golden Bridge's firefighters told the children if they can't make it out of their homes, they need to get in the bathtub, start the water, cover themselves with a wet towel and keep on screaming for help.

They also showed off some of their heavy equipment and made a big impression on the little ones.

"They're highly trained and I think that they care about people," 7-year-old Sophie Inana said.

Currid's father is a firefighter, so he knows all about the tough hours.

"He usually comes home really late," he said.

Currid told Hsu that his dad is his hero.

"If you smell gas, call 911. Let the fire department come and do a quick inspection and get out of the house," Capt. Ned Canora warned in response to recent gas explosions.

Canora said it's never to early to talk to kids about fire safety, even if parents are concerned about scaring them.

"It's more important to talk to them and scare them and be with them, than it is to ignore the subject and have something happen," he said.