FDNY Gives New Coats to Washington Heights Kids Ahead of Weekend Cold Front
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Dozens of local school kids will be a little warmer this winter thanks to the FDNY.
The Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA) and Public Advocate Letitia James met with more than 60 students in kindergarten through fourth grade at P.S. 115 Thursday morning to talk about fire safety and give them brand-new winter coats at part of the program Operation Warm Coats.
FDNY spokesman Michael Fricchione said organizers wanted to get the coats out before the cold front expected this weekend. Forecasters said the temperatures will steadily drop below zero Saturday night.
Operation Warm Coats launched in 2012 and has since provided winter coats to more 2 million kids living below middle class, with hundreds distributed this year alone. Each year the program tries to select a different school or area based on need.
P.S. 115 was selected because some of the students and their families were homeless or low-income, according to several officials at the event.
“We did about five of these last year,” the UFOA's Derek Harkin said, adding that this was the first in the Washington Heights area. “It’s great, seeing the reactions of the kids.”
The students shared what they knew about fire safety with James and FDNY officials. When asked what they would do in case of a fire, the majority of the kids shot up their arms to quickly answer.
“Stop, drop and roll,” one student yelled out from the front row. “Stay low and escape,” another student added.
The fire officials told the children that they should conduct fire drills at home like they do at school. They should make sure to help their family in the event of a fire, but "you have to first know how to escape yourself,” said FDNY First Deputy Commissioner Robert Turner.
“I want to thank FDNY,” James said. “They’re truly heroes to these children. Not only do they put out fires, but they make children warm in the winter.”
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