From: Fermin Rodriguez <fermin1952**At_Symbol_Here**YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] FW: ACS Thursday
Date: February 3, 2012 7:31:24 AM EST
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: <1546d141171096c48038eb38542ff473**At_Symbol_Here**mail.gmail.com>


Hi all.
 
Never play with fire!!!!
 
After working in the private petrochemical / refining industry for 35 year, (responding to significant spills, releases to atmosphere, fires, explosions) as lead investigator and / or incident commander (responding to significant spills, releases to atmosphere, fires, explosions):  I have to say " DO NOT PLAY WITH FIRE". 
It is horrible to see someone burning, it is heart felt and frustrating seeing someone dying, and it is a emotional stress  and depressing situation giving the bad news to relatives of a person that died in a fire.  Co-workers, friends, supervisors, responders, relatives and other are always affected.
 
Today,  I teach incident investigations, emergency response,  process safety among other items;  For sure, all my students or those that attend my presentations  learn to respect toxics, flammable, and fires,  not from physical demonstration, but rather from  actual industry and medical  stories, videos, reports  and key note speakers that tell the stories and  life experience.
 
The industry is full of  graphical stories that could engrave the message in our minds and hearts: "NEVER PLAY WITH FIRE "  it is not a good way to learn. 
 
 
Regards
 
Fermin Rodriguez
FR Consulting
  

From: Jack Armstrong
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 8:46 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] FW: ACS Thursday

Hello Bob,

 

As an Ex-Fire Safety Trainer I have to say you nailed it. Thanks.

 

Regards,

jack

 

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of ILPI
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 9:49 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] FW: ACS Thursday

 

Well, personally, I've used pentane which works pretty well due to the low boiling point (36 C).  But I would never let students do anything with fire, of course.   That said, isopropanol/water works great for the burning $20 bill trick, especially when it's one you've taken from someone in the audience.   The demo is good - but letting students play with fire in that manner is, of course, professionally derelict.

 

Alas, there are things like this out there...note the discussion of "Safety & Additional Information" that contains the very comprehensive instruction of "Don't get burned or set your house or yard on fire" : http://chemistry.about.com/od/funfireprojects/a/fireballs.htm 

 

What this teacher is talking about leads to kids doing this on their own.  Which leads to this:

 

            http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/nov/10/wsu-student-was-playing-fire-when-burned-self/

            http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20010129/aponline125541_000.htm

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sf0D-1UacE

            http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/26/nation/la-na-burn-victim26-2009nov26

            http://www.fox43.com/news/wpmt-youth-burned-lebanon-county,0,7829067.story

            or kids trying it with something else, like gasoline....

 

Obviously, try to dissuade this person based on the high risk, near-zero pedagogical content, and personal/professional liability.

 

And then tell her that if you ever hear of her even contemplating doing this with students again, that you'll contact the principal, superintendent, school board, fire marshal, and local media to make sure it stops.   And that she ever has a student injured or killed as a direct or indirect result of this class activity that you will be first to testify for the prosecution/plaintiff against her.

 

Rob Toreki

 

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On Feb 1, 2012, at 10:56 AM, Friedman, Donna G. wrote:



I just received this e-mail message from a high school teacher, it is not a joke, I am going to respond but decided to wait a bit to include your (more thoughtful) comments.

Thanks,

Donna

 

 

Donna G. Friedman, Ph.D.

Chair, Department of Chemistry

St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley

3400 Pershall Rd.

St. Louis, MO  63135

314-513-4388

 

 

 

Subject: FW: ACS Thursday

 

 

Hello fellow teachers!

 

I have a quick question.  Not sure if I can make it on Thursday, so thought I had best send this e-mail.  I normally have my students light their hands on fire with a mixture of isopropyl and water.  (I test it first with a paper towel to make sure it doesn't burn.)  My students have said there is a "cooler" way to light your hand on fire and that Burroughs, Wentzville, etc. all do this cooler way.  We all know students don't always know the "real story", but is there a cooler (more exciting, brighter) way to light your hand on fire that is still safe? 

 

Thanks!  I would appreciate your help on this matter!!

Melanie

 

Melanie Shedd

Principia Upper School

mel**At_Symbol_Here**prin.edu

 

 

 

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