Fallen Firefighter's Brother Keeps Legacy Alive
posted 4:05 pm Tue October 09, 2007 - Goose Creek, SC
Jeff Thompson is teaching fire prevention while keeping a legacy alive. Thompson is the brother of fallen firefighter, Brandon Thompson.
He says teaching kids fire safety helps him heal.
Four months ago, a fire took his little brother away. Tuesday, Jeff Thompson gave back by teaching kids how to handle the very thing that changed his world forever.
“First thing you do is stop. You don't run, you don't get scared,” Thompson demonstrated for a group of kindergarteners at Devon Forest Elementary School in Goose Creek.
Lessons he used to teach with Brandon, he now does alone.
“If you're inside a fire, don't get scared if you hear that sound,” Thompson added.
He says doing these demonstrations is important. He wants kids to understand the dangers of fires and how to react if they're ever in one.
He teaches these kindergarteners old tricks, like stop, drop and roll. He also teaches them new tricks like how not to be afraid of firemen in their gear.
“Next thing he (the fireman) does is put on his flash hood,” Thompson demonstrated.
Being scared of firemen is one reason so many kids don't make it out of burning homes.
“If they see a fireman in the house-fire and they're inside that house trapped, they’re not to run away and not to hide,” Thompson said. “We've found children under beds and closets.”
He also teaches another important lesson: one that could have saved Brandon.
“We teach them never to go back inside,” Thompson explained.
Doing this has been Thompson's calling for the past twelve years.
It’s a family tradition because all three Thompson boys became firefighters, now it’s down to two.
“Brandon would be here this week with us if he didn't die in the Sofa Super Store and Brandon's always going to be with us. He's always with me,” Thompson said.
Jeff Thompson plans on continuing the legacy by keeping little ones safe and doing for them what Brandon can no longer do.
Jeff Thompson says he'll continue to do these prevention classes to keep kids safe but also hoping to inspire children to follow in Brandon's footsteps.
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