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Kids Play Firefighter For The Day At Please Touch Museum

By Mike Dougherty

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - "Safety" was the word of the day at the Please Touch Museum Saturday as children got the chance to meet Philadelphia police and firefighters.

Tiny jaws dropped as the bright red truck from Engine 16 pulled into the parking lot. Five-year-old Jacob was wearing a smile a mile wide.

"I like to get on it, and I want to drive it!" he said.

Fire commissioner Lloyd Ayers says it's important for kids to have interaction with and learn to trust emergency personnel. He says it's a joy to watch the kids climb on the truck and shoot the hose:

"Let me tell you something, you look at those firefighters --they're smiling as much as the children because it's just a fun time."

The day is all part of the museum's initiative to promote a healthy lifestyle, according to vice president of development Stephanie Capello:

"We're getting ready here to go back to school, so it's important for these kids to know about important information related to fire and police safety," she said.

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