Update on the weather is, you guessed it, cloudy (although I do think we will see the sun today) and highs in the mid to upper 40s. And it is Friday!! Can't get any better than this unless it were snowing!
Despite the fun blog title, we did have a sort of melt down here in real life that could have been serious. We had one of our dimmer switches go bad on one of the lights. At first, the light would not turn off, but it still worked. So we turned it down. Then, the light went bright, wouldn't turn off and wouldn't turn down. Then, we started to smell the dreaded plastic melting smell. We turned off the breaker to the room that had the dimmer switch with it, and felt the wall. It was hot! We also called the electrician, and he came out to fix it. I asked him about the problem wanting to know if this was a likely problem or not. He said it could happen with the older switches that we have up to two times a year, but that really it was very uncommon and that we did the right thing. He also said there was no risk of fire. Which leads me to today's question: Why are there no smoke detectors in the flats?
Although modern office buildings have sprinklers in the ceiling, visible fire extinguishers, and the like, we have noticed that none of the flats have fire detectors, and our building only has extinguishers on the two floors that have businesses in them. We also do not have sprinkler systems in this building. One week prior to all this happening, we had the opportunity during an orientation meeting to ask someone about fire safety in Germany. She said that it was not uncommon for these items to be missing, but it was due to the construction. In the USA, much of the buildings are wood from the framing process and sometimes too from the siding. They also use insulation, that sometimes can spread a fire, depending on what type it is. This makes the structures very flammable, and requires that you have the appropriate fire detection and safety supplies. It also means you should have an escape route planned and practiced, so that you can get to safety as fast as possible. But here, the buildings are all made out of concrete and block, or built completely out of stone and bricks. The floors in most office buildings are ceramic tile or stone. Although carpet and wood are common within the flats and apartments, it is not usually found near the electrical outlets, and wood is not used in the construction of the walls. All this combined makes the event of a fire extremely unlikely, simply because the building materials won't burn.
Now, I personally don't believe this is entirely true, particularly after our incident. We will be going to the local hardware store to see if we can find battery only operated smoke detectors and two extinguishers. But for most Germans, it simply is not a concern. Even in the schools my children attend, they have not yet practiced a fire drill. And fire instruction in the classroom, according to a friend here, is only not to play with matches.
I know at your school, you have many fire drills on a regular basis. This is for your safety, so that you would know what to do in the event of fire. You also have lessons about fire safety, what to do if you catch on fire (Remember - Stop, Drop, and Roll!), and what not to do so that you don't start a fire. Be sure to pay attention to all this information. Also, please make a fire exit plan for your home and practice it with your family. (This goes for the adults reading this, too!!) It really could save your life, and the lives of those you love.
The word for the day is Fire: das Feuer - (foy ehr).
The question for the day is: Do the ambulances and police sirens sound the same as in America?
Auf Wiedersehen,
Frau Spitzer
