As a granddaughter and sister of firefighters, and mother to a toddler firefighter wannabe, I was looking forward to this "day in the life," which introduces young viewers to a firefighter's job: being “always ready” (firefighter's motto) for the 911 call, driving the big engines, arriving on the scene of a fire, returning to a communal meal, and keeping the equipment and building clean. In addition, the program takes a side trip to fire school where rookies are trained in rescue techniques, fire chemistry, and in the “fire house” (a real burn in controlled circumstances). Unfortunately, most of these interesting sequences are shown “fast forward” or in tinted monochrome, or are abbreviated so that producer/writer/star Lauree Dash can breathlessly exclaim in that hyper-excited voice peculiar to children's programming, "That's amazing!” or “I've never held an axe before!” or “That is wicked cool!” Children are more likely to be interested in hearing and seeing the real heroes--the firefighters (the intended focus)--not a mugging host whose talents should have remained behind the camera. A better choice here would be Fire Busters (VL-7/96). Optional. Also available in the Amazing Heroes series at the same price: Spend a Day with Rescue Workers and Spend a Day with a Police Officer. Aud: K, E. (R. Reagan)
Amazing Heroes: Spend a Day with Firefighters
(2002) 24 min. VHS or DVD: $9.99. Dream Big Productions (dist. by Instructional Video). PPR. Color cover. Volume 18, Issue 1
Amazing Heroes: Spend a Day with Firefighters
Star Ratings
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