Focus on TUSD - October 2007

"Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Safety Life for Me": Drexel Heights Firefighters Stage Program at Banks Elementary
Somehow, safety messages seem so much more exciting when they're delivered by singing and dancing pirates.

That's what Banks Elementary School students found when five Drexel Heights Fire District firefighters, a.k.a. the Pirates of Safety Island, came to their school Oct. 15. "Yo ho, yo ho, a safety life for me," they sang along with the pirates whenever a new safety tip was revealed.

It's that repetition during an entertaining show that makes the message stick, said Hector Munoz, the firefighter who played Starboard Steve. "They find out that kids can be in danger, and they need to know what to do."

The half-hour program highlighted themes such as not playing with guns, having an escape plan in case of a house fire, and being safe in the water. The pirates and their parrot puppet dispensed advice as they searched for treasure on an island using a map they found on their ship.

Drexel firefighters chose the pirate theme this year because it's been popular with children in recent movies. They bought some costumes and made others. They also wrote their own script, built their own sets and did their own audio and video.

In the past, they've done shows using the "Wizard of Oz" and "Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory" themes.

The department offers school programs all year, but they pull out all the stops for their special program in October during Fire Safety Month. That program is presented to the entire school.

After the show, second-grader Carolina Karlinsey observed, "It was good, the singing. I learned to stay away from guns and lie down if you see a fire."

Tracy Koslowski, the Drexel public information officer, said the cast and crew enjoy putting on the show. "They're a riot. They have too much fun. They look forward to it every year and try to top themselves. This is the best one yet. We've had lots of positive feedback."

The cast featured, in addition to Munoz, Capt. Jeremy Beatty as Captain Longcoat, and firefighters Maria Hawkes as One-Eyed Lily, John McGinn as Tele the Puppet and Henry Molina as Scorch.

The show was also presented at White, Warren, Vesey and Miller elementary schools and at Johnson Primary School.

-- By Sharon Dunham
Communications & Media Relations