What a month!

October must be one for the record books.

Recent editorials by two of my colleagues at The Press newspapers noted October is National Bullying Prevention Month and also hosts Red Ribbon Week, a national campaign marking drug-use prevention.

October also is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Filipino American History Month, Vegetarian, Rhubarb AND Spinach Lovers month, National Physical Therapy Month and Squirrel Month.

National Principals Month and National Dropout Prevention Month also fall in October.

The month was first declared National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the late 1980s and this is the first National Women in AI Month, thanks in part to tech concern Cadence, according to the website Forbes.com.

And, of course, there is Halloween, a finale of a scare-filled month of ghouls, goblins and other things that go bump in the night.

The list is extensive and wide-ranging in subjects, causes and issues; however, it may be worth taking a moment to highlight one.

October is National Fire Prevention Month.

As a kid, I was among those who sat on the stairs along the front of The Swain School, Salisbury Township, for the fire prevention-themed school assembly held every October. My classmates and I eagerly awaited the arrival of the fire trucks kept at the Swain Station, a white building near what was at the time the field hockey/soccer field behind the school. The program traditionally began with the sounding of the sirens at the station and the much anticipated sight of firetrucks turning from South 24th Street and making their way up the curved driveway leading to what was at the time the school’s main entrance.

One year my class made posters illustrating fire prevention lessons learned. I have no idea what I drew nor that poster’s fate.

It was an exciting time and also a sobering one.

Back then, in the 20th century, we learned the mantra ‘Stop. Drop. Roll;’ the importance of establishing and practicing an escape plan from our homes in case of fire; not to be afraid of firefighters and, of course, not to play with matches or lighters.

This year’s theme, according to the website of the National Fire Protection Association focuses on the importance and maintenance of smoke alarms in residences.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, news media in the United States reported 1,586 home fire fatalities between Jan. 1 and Oct. 20 of this year.

Researchers for the agency noted the following: “We gather home fire fatality information from U.S. news media reports published within 24-48 hours after a fatal fire.”

Sobering data indeed.

Take some time before October ends to:

– review and practice an escape plan from your home in case of fire

– check and/or change the batteries in home smoke alarms

– prepare fire safety skills for winter, a season when fire risks increase, according to researchers

And lastly, many congratulations to the Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company for the new Swain Station.

April Peterson

editorial assistant

East Penn Press

Salisbury Press