Taking fire safety into the classroom
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service in partnership with the Child Accident Prevention Trust’s (CAPT) is launching a schools fire safety pack during this week's Child Safety Week.
Fire is the biggest killer of children in the home. In 2005/06 10 children were injured in fires in Warwickshire.
County Fire Officer, William Brown said:
“It is essential that every child knows how to prevent a fire and what to do on hearing the smoke alarm. Every second counts when a fire breaks out, so ensuring everyone can get out and stay alive is crucial.
“The packs are an excellent way to teach children about general fire safety including safety in the home, arson and the dangers of hoax calls. Last year over 16,000 children in Warwickshire took part in fire safety sessions as part of our school programme and we welcome any initiative, which reinforces the messages the children have learnt during those sessions.”
The theme of Child Safety Week is: Avoid the worst. Put Child Safety first! The Child Accident Prevention Trust will be encouraging the prevention of a range of childhood accidents, especially the potentially most serious - at home, these are house fires, falls, scalds, drowning and poisoning. Outdoors, they are accidents involving children in cars, walking or cycling.
Katrina Phillips, chief executive of Child Accident Prevention Trust says: ‘We want to remind parents, grandparents, older children in the family, childminders – and everyone who comes into contact with children - that preventing accidents doesn’t have to be a big deal. The fire safety education pack is a great way to make sure children interact with their class to learn about the hazards of fire.”
To request a free copy of the schools fire safety pack log onto: http://www.firekills.gov.uk/education/index.htm