The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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September 8, 2008

Fire department offers classes for children

By Christian M. Giggenbach

COAL CITY — “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go,” shouts an enthusiastic Elena Imes as children of all ages quickly snap to attention and begin scurrying about outside the Coal City Volunteer Fire Department Monday.

“If a kid is going to get involved, then we are going to show them how to do it right,” Imes, a Coal City volunteer firefighter and youth director, said. “These little girls over here are learning how to rescue someone.”

Each Monday for the past five weeks, Imes and other volunteers like Stacy Howell have held safety classes and much more for area youths ages 4 to 18. Imes said up to 38 kids have participated in the safety classes and she hopes more will show up next Monday.

“I really believe these nights have been beneficial to the kids,” Howell, the group’s educational instructor, said.

Many of their exercises, such as climbing ladders and putting on breathing gear, are the fundamental building blocks for future firefighters, but others, such as “school bullies” and “make-up day” for girls, help keep many of the youngsters fundamentally sound in general.

D.J. Wyatt, 14, was waiting for his turn to climb a ladder and then do the maneuver known as a “fire slide,” where a firefighter grips the outside of the ladder with his or her hands and feet and “slides” down the ladder. You don’t always have time to climb down a ladder, Imes told the youngsters.

“It’s pretty interesting to learn about all of this stuff,” Wyatt, of Midway, said. “I’ve learned a whole lot and it’s been fun.”

Hayley McLain, 9, of Sophia, said she’s learned that doing drugs does not make anybody cool.

“I’ve also learned that nobody should act like a bully in school,” she said.

Imes said the idea behind the youth group activities was simple: “Get children involved doing positive activities.”

“There are many kids out there who need our support,” Imes said. “There are too many kids in too many bad homes.”

— E-mail: cgiggenbach@register-herald.com

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