More than 100 Rockwell Elementary kindergartners were taught to stop, drop and roll when officials with the Spanish Fort Fire Department visited them last week in an effort to teach them about fire safety.

Fire Prevention Week began Oct. 7 and concludes Oct. 13.

When two masked and helmeted firefighters crawled through the aisles of children seated in the cafeteria, giggles erupted.

Though the children thought this was humorous, it was done so the students would know what a firefighter looks like in full gear, Capt. Brad Jernigan said. Firemen use this technique for children who may be scared of the way a fireman looks in full gear.

Typically, Jernigan said, if a child is scared they may try to hide during the fire.

Jernigan, who is also the public education coordinator for the Spanish Fort Fire Department, said they try to teach fire safety to 13 different schools during Fire Prevention Week.

“We attempt to get into every school in our jurisdiction,” he said.

Most of the schools they approach are preschools, elementary and middle schools, but they are attempting to adapt a program to keep the attention of high school age students as well.

During last week’s presentation, the children were instructed to tap the firefighters’ helmets lightly as they went by, as this is one way to get a firefighter’s attention during a fire.

Instructions were given about what to do if a house catches on fire and to never to go back into a burning building.

Jernigan told the students to go to a neighbor’s house to call 911 if there is a fire. Jernigan, accompanied by a volunteer from the audience, demonstrated how to stop, drop and roll if clothes are on fire. He also advised “crawling on the floor like a baby,” during a fire. He also warned them about playing with matches or lighters.

As part of a demonstration, Jernigan set off a smoke alarm so children would be aware of what an alarm sounds like.

Jernigan said many of the students typically go home and remind parents about the safety of having smoke alarms that have working batteries. Many people take out the batteries or disable them because the noise they make is a nuisance.

“Fifty percent of smoke detectors have been disabled in homes,” he said.

Allstate Insurance provided hats and pencils donning fire safety messages on them.

Students were also given a booklet of grid paper with instructions on how to draw up a fire escape plan for their home using two exits.

Less than 10 residential fires within 12 months were reported in the city of Spanish Fort, Jernigan said. There have been only one or two residential fires with catastrophic loss for the last 12 months.

“We average about 10 to 12 [residential fires] a year,” he said.

Many homes in Spanish Fort are newer and built to withstand fire, and have newer wiring and new sheet rock, which helps reduce fires.

The Spanish Fort Fire Department has approximately 30 firemen, mostly volunteers, Jernigan said.

“There is always somebody available,” he said.