Tattnall Square Academy Students Get Lesson in Escaping House Fires

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – It’s something everyone should know. But Monday, kids at Tattnall Square Academy got an up close and personal lesson on how to escape a house fire.

Macon-Bibb Fire Lt. Ellen Kicklighter told a fifth grade class having an escape route is the best way to make it out of burning home alive.

She even explained to them what exactly to say when they call 9-1-1. For example, they are to tell what is the emergency, the location of the incident, and who is involved in the emergency.

According to the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department, there were 13 fire fatalities last year and most of those were children.

Lt. Kicklighter recalled one of the fatal fires which claimed the lives of family members.

“They were overcome by the smoke,” she said, “The father and the sons were able to get out of a window, but I think there were three girls and a mother, who did perish in that fire.”

Lt. Kicklighter is scheduled to return to Tattnall Academy, to give more details about how to plan an effective escape route.

Tattnall Academy fifth grader Lydia Warnick said she enjoyed learning how to treat different kinds of injuries.

“I like the part about burns, like the first degree, second degree and third degree burns. Some burns you can take care of at home and you have to go to the hospital for the others.”

She says the Macon-Bibb Fire Department, is working to get the word out about fire safety, to as many students as they can. They host numerous fire safety demonstrations across the county at area schools.