LAURINBURG — The county fire inspector and city fire departments are offering a service to day cares that will help providers keep children safe and save day cares money.

On April 10 at 6 p.m., County Fire Inspector Bud McAllister will offer fire extinguisher training for local day-care providers at The County Administration Building at 507 W. Covington St.

Classes will be led by McAllister and consist of both classroom and hands-on training. They are free.

The approximately 30-minute class will consist of an in-class review of state laws concerning extinguishers and fire safety and experience using an extinguisher to put out a fire.

“We do this to prepare providers in the event of an emergency and to keep the children safe,” McAllister said. “We’ll go outside and do a burn and an exercise in extinguishing a fire. They will all get a turn to put out a fire sometimes more if needed.”

McAllister provides the classes as a service to local day cares in order to make sure staff are properly trained and to help keep owner’s costs down. Scotland County has approximately 28 day care facilities and yearly training is required by the state. Providers who do not participate in the free classes will have to pay to have their staff certified.

McAllister offers the classes twice a year and usually has around 25 participants per class.

Vevely Malloy, owner of State Line Day Care has been sending her staff to the classes for more than 10 years.

“Hands-on experience is the best method for my staff. You can read about the steps and see the fire extinguisher rule, but until you get that active exposure and the feeling of putting out a flame I don’t feel that’s enough if something should happen,” she said.

Malloy believes the classes offer another benefit as well. Because the classes are taught by the same local firemen and inspectors who visit the facilities, it gives daycare staff an opportunity to get to know the inspectors and firemen and build a rapport, she said.

“I wouldn’t want to have people who never come out unless they are doing an inspection teaching the class. I see the advantage of building a relationship between the staff and the county,” Malloy said.

The next class offered by McCallister will be in the second Tuesday in October.

Anyone interested in the classes can contact McAllister at [email protected].

The next classes offered by the Laurinburg Fire Department will be held on May 15, Aug. 21 and Nov. 20. Visit http://www.laurinburg.org/public-safety/#fire-department for sign up information.

County Fire Inspector Bud McAlliseter demonstrates the PASS — Pull, aim, squeeze sweep method for handling a fire extinguisher. The method is part of yearly fire safety training for day care providers in the state.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_20180320_133142Processed.jpgCounty Fire Inspector Bud McAlliseter demonstrates the PASS — Pull, aim, squeeze sweep method for handling a fire extinguisher. The method is part of yearly fire safety training for day care providers in the state.

By Beth Lawrence

Staff reporter

Reach Beth Lawrence 910-506-3169