ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Susana:
A friend of mine who is a firefighter sometimes does his own combustion/fire
safety demos for kids. He said that his department's attitude is: denial
helps no one. Better the kids know about fire safety and learn about it in
an educational setting, cause otherwise they'll just develop fire
fascination from less responsible sources.
Apparently your local marshal may beg to differ. But when making your case,
try to stress that your goal is to educate, and that includes education
about fire safety. And don't just talk the talk, walk the walk when you do
the demos.
All of Robert's advice is excellent (as ever). Here are a few more tips:
* Always start out the demo with your shpiel on safety. Warn kids + adults
alike not to try this at home. Show them your safety apparatuses like
extinguisher, goggles, plexiglass shield etc. Point out that you have been
trained in how to do these demos safely and how to deal with fire. If the
demo is loud, tell the audience to cover their ears and wear some kind of
ear protection yourself. Keeping the extinguisher in view of the audience
and always wearing goggles makes a statement, perhaps moreso than anything
you say. It tells them that even a science expert (which is how they likely
think of you) takes fire safety seriously.
* Speaking of which, your staff should be trained in proper use of
extinguishers and fire evacuation plans. Your fire department can likely
assist with this.
* Choose your demos carefully and explain how you did so to the fire
marshal. For example, detonating a hydrogen filled balloon is spectacular;
yet it burns up so quickly it has a low risk of setting something else on
fire. Much safer than demos I don't do, such as stuff with
lithium/sodium/etc
* Use your demos to expound on safety. Keep a tray of sand on stage to
extinguish burning wood splints... and point out to your audience how
campfires should be covered with sand. If you do the Flaming Vortex demo,
use it to point out how extra oxygen --> bigger fire, which is why doors +
windows should be kept shut in case of fire. If you extinguish flames by
placing a beaker over them, point out how this deprives a fire of oxygen...
and how putting a lid on a pot if it catches fire = better than adding water
to a grease fire. Got some exothermic reactions (several redox reactions,
for example), point out how some chemical reactions can produce enough heat
to start a fire (ie oily rags). Do the whoosh bottle demo? Before lighting
it up, point out how the bottle looks empty, but it's not safe, flammable
gasses are invisible. And at some point in the demo, remind your audience
that lives are saved by three simple words: Working. Smoke. Detectors.
* Contact Flinn Scientific for advice (1-800-452-1261). They are generally
happy to help with safety matters.
Good luck,
Jonah Cohen
Outreach & Public Programs Manager
Science Center of Connecticut
"On blind faith they place reliance,
what we need more of is science"
-MC Hawking
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Krampf [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 4:54 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Fire Department Woes
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
****************************************************************************
*
Susanna,
I have had a lot of experience dealing with Fiire Marshals as I travel with
my show "Burning Questions: The Science of Fire." They usually start by
saying something along the lines of "Yes, you THINK you are going to do a
fire
show." I always ask them to watch the show, and tell them that I will drop
any
demo that they don't like. The demos range from lycopodium dust flares to
sprinkling powdered iron into a flame for spark showers to using movie stunt
gel
to set my hand on fire. In 12 years of doing this show, I have never had
to
drop a demo.
A big part of this is in the presentation. I follow fire safety
proceedures
very carefully, making sure that I always have a fire extinguisher on stage,
all cloth and paper are treated with flame retardants, etc. I carefully
control quantities, which is also important. For example, with your
hydrogen
balloon, be sure that your hydrogen tank is stored someplace else, and bring
in
the pre-filled balloons. Stress safety during the demo. I tie a string
to
the balloon, with a weight to hold it in place. I use safety goggles, and
ignite the balloon with a candle tied to the end of a yard stick. Play up
the
safety angle, setting the fire extinguisher on the table before had.
Also, be sure that the demo plays an important role in the program. If the
demo is vital to understanding a key point, they are much more likely to
accept it than if it is just stuck on to add a bang to the end of the show.
Pay
close attention to the script, making it tight and polished.
Attitude is also important. Don't argue with them. Be VERY professional,
and know your stuff. Just using the proper terms can help a LOT. Do a
Google search for (fire marshal fuel accelerant) and you will get sites with
all
the right words. Instead of trying to convince them to let you do the
demo,
ask them what you can change to make it acceptable. Even better, get them
in
on the ground floor when you develop the program. If they have input, they
feel connected and you will have a much easier time.
It also matters who is doing the demo. A student volunteer doing the demo
is not going to be nearly as likely to get approval as a full time
instructor
with a degree in chemistry.
If you have any questions, give a yell.
Robert Krampf
Robert Krampf's Science Shows
www.krampf.com
In a message dated 2/7/06 3:16:00 PM, [log in to unmask] writes:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
>
****************************************************************************
*
>
>
> Dear ASTCians,
>
> The Imaginarium's local fire department is sorely distressed over the fact
> that we're igniting hydrogen balloons and hydrogen bubbles in our
building.
> Our fire inspector is also concerned that we are doing this activity with
> and in front of children. He's shut our combustion demonstrations down
> until we approach the Fire Marshal with some information on how other
> Science Centers deal with fire codes & children regarding this activity.
>
> If you and your center have had close encounters with your local fire
> department, please reply with your story. What were the fire department's
> specific complaints? How did you satisfy them that your center was doing
> combustion demonstrations safely?
>
> Yours in Pyrotechnics,
>
> Susanna Mishler
> Education Programs Manager
> The Imaginarium
> 737 W. 5th Ave., Ste. G
> [log in to unmask]
>
> ***********************************************************************
> More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
> Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at
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