Did you have a nice warm break? How come you are hot and I`m cold? The reason I have started with fire experience is unlike you at the moment with your sizzling hot summer weather, we out here in Oz are having our winter!

Thermal underclothes, log fires. Ducks coming in to land on my frozen dam, then skidding on their bottoms and blaming me! The birds are now tapping on the windows for tucker! At last the Robin Redbreast is sitting on the spade handle. Oi Oi, `Ows about a chunk of cheese then? Snow,sleet, rain, and lots of mud. Sounds charming, eh?

I hope you have been putting on lots of sunscreen lotion. Sun burn hurts doesn't it. So. If I write about fires it might warm me up a bit! Is`nt it awful when you have a "Dew Drop" on the end of your nose,and your nose is so cold you can`t feel it. Everyone is laughing at you.( Even Teachers have dew drops sometimes.Don`t tell Teach I said that though!) Right...........How far did we get?.........Mmm...

Fires!

No matter how calm a person appears when involved in a fire, to some extent they panic! As far as I can see the panic is caused by not being familiar with their surroundings and not knowing what to do.

When I used to play music at different places with accommodation sometimes the kids would come too. They always thought me an old Fuddy Duddy because the first thing I would do was to suss out the place. Oz Explore. The lay out of the rooms, the nearest fire escape, other possible ways out, fire alarms, extinguishers, hose reels, then arrange a meeting spot if we should end up separated.(Oh. come on Dad, where`s the pool?)

The biggest killer during a fire is the smoke.(Hold your hand 6 inches from your face and imagine NOT being able to see it because the smoke is so thick!) You can`t breathe, your eyes and nose are running. Remember there is always a little fresh air maybe 3/8 inches from the floor. Crawl with your mouth in this area so at least you can breathe a bit.

One big trap is that some doors open INWARDS and some OUTWARDS!! Many fatalities have been caused by this. People trying to open the door the wrong way.

If a door feels hot, DON`T OPEN IT! Go a different way - remember the lay out.

Do you have practice fire drills at school? How do YOU know it`s only a practice?

I know it all seems good fun, but remember these drills can save your life and your mates as well.

If, and I hope you are never in a fire,BE SCARED! Even firemen are scared sometimes. Being scared puts you into a survival mode.

DO NOT GO BACK FOR THE CAT, DOG, HANDBAG, DOLL. You are the most precious one.

I've seen many acts of bravery, BUT many many more fatalities. "IF ONLY"?? THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS!.