Days like Wednesday, July 7 demonstrate why it pays off to have firemen for next-door neighbors.

When a 2-year-old girl attending Jericho Jewish Center's nursery school got her head stuck in a piece of playground equipment during recess, all a witness had to do was run to the adjacent property to summon help.

A dozen firemen arrived so quickly that the other kids were still frolicking around the blue, hole-filled climbing apparatus in which the toddler, named Brittany, was stuck.

According to First Assistant Chief David Ginzburg, Brittany had inserted her head through one of the small holes, but was unable to free herself, trapped like a prisoner in an old, wooden stock.

Though Brittany was in no danger, the firemen proceeded slowly and calmly, because of the victim's age and frightened status. "We're talking about a 2-year-old child, hysterically crying," said Ginzburg.

Firemen used a hydrolic cutter to slice off sections of the apparatus until her head was freed. Trying to avoid scaring the girl further, firemen chose the hydrolic cutter because, said Ginzburg, "It's a quiet device; the motor is away from the scene."

The girl was freed in about an hour. Said Ginzburg, "She wasn't injured or very hurt, she was just very scared." Several days later the fire department received a thank-you note from Brittany and the JJC.