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Lessons and materials

Fire Alarm Pull Stations

Hands-on activity looking at fire safety and helping students with visual impairments understand fire alarm pull stations.

As O&Ms (Orientation and Mobility instructors) take our students around in school buildings and out in the community, our students encounter the pull stations that are in the different areas in the building. Often, they nearly pull them by accident in their travels.

I decided this was an area that needed further exploration. I contacted the local fire marshall who put me in touch with the school district’s maintenance department. I then was able to obtain three different pull stations for my students to explore. As a result, numerous activities have come out of this “crazy idea” that I had.

Activity 1: Create a Map

Create a map of the school and where the pull stations are located.  This can be done with the Wheatley Tactile Diagramming Kit from APH or other tactile graphics.

Activity 2: Learn about Pull Stations

Write a letter to the fire marshal with questions about the pull stations.  Find out about different features of a pull station (lock, circuitry, pull handle, etc.) and discuss what their purposes might be.

Back of fire alarm pull stations
Back of fire alarm pull station
Inside of a fire alarm pull station
Inside of a fire alarm pull station

Activity 3: Read stories about fire drills.

Book suggestions from the school librarian:

Fire Alarm Pull Station Collage

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