Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service supports Child Safety Week 2009 - 22 to 28 June 2009
School children are being targeted in a campaign to make them safer from fire this summer as part of "Child Safety Week".
Firefighters from Newcastle West and West Denton Community Fire Stations will be teaming up with St John Ambulance to promote this year's theme, ’safer together’, helping parents to ensure they and their kids stay safe from accidental fires in the home.
Firefighters will be making three visits this month to over 170 youngsters in Years 5 and 6 at four schools in the Newcastle area; Wingrove Primary School, Hawthorn Primary School, Walbottle Primary School and Thomas Walling Primary School.
During the first visit, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and St John Ambulance will run hourly education sessions teaching fire safety and first aid focusing on kitchen safety, fire prevention and the treatment of burns and scalds. They will set a challenge to the children to develop 20 minute presentations during Child Safety Week where they can choose posters, display boards, talks and drama to get those vital fire safety messages across to over 1,110 pupils across the four schools.
Firefighters from both stations will return for a second visit to the schools between 8-19 June to offer extra support and encouragement in preparation of the final presentations which will be held on 25 and 26 June.
Watch Manager, Karen Soady,Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service says, “It’s important that mums and dads talk to their children about fire safety and set a good example to help them stay safer together. Explaining the importance of having a smoke alarm and testing it weekly, for example, can significantly reduce the devastating consequences of having an accidental house fire.”
Head Teacher, Denise Harland, Wingrove Primary School said: "We're the adopted school of both Newcastle's Red and Blue Watches and have a great relationship with Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service. They have worked with us on a number of projects over the last few years which have been very helpful in teaching our children about the dangers of fire.
"Their visits come during our annual ‘Respect – Be Safe’ week, an action-packed series of events and lessons on the theme of respect and safety and we're very grateful for all the help we're getting from organisations like the fire and rescue service, Enviro Schools the Red Cross, the NSPCC, the Police and from parents and community groups throughout the week."
Here are Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service's top tips for a safer family home:
• Set clear kitchen rules for young kids such as: never play with matches, never switch on the cooker, never put anything on top of the cooker and don’t touch any saucepans on the cooker.
• Make sure young children know the kitchen is not a play area - never leave younger children alone in the kitchen when you're cooking and never let them play near the oven and hob.
• Get ‘key clever’ – encourage your children to check that keys are in the correct place. Keys for windows and doors should always be kept in an accessible place so you can get out quickly in the event of a fire.
• Nominate your child to be the ‘Escape champ’ – regularly role-play escape routes and give children the responsibility to keep escape routes clear.
Get ‘key clever’ – encourage your children to check that keys are in the correct place. Keys for windows and doors should always be kept in an accessible place so you can get out quickly in the event of a fire.
• Nominate your child to be the ‘Escape champ’ – regularly role-play escape routes and give children the responsibility to keep escape routes clear.
• Discuss how to call 999 – make sure children know which number to call in an emergency. Also ensure that they know their address and that both are pinned up by the phone; explain the importance of only calling 999 in a real emergency.
• Keep candles, lighters and matches out of children’s reach. Never leave burning candles unattended.
• Fit and maintain a smoke alarm – you should have one on each level of your home and test it weekly. Smoke alarms should be positioned close to kitchens but not in kitchens.
• Don’t remove the batteries – if your smoke alarm keeps going off accidentally while you are cooking, don’t remove the batteries. Instead move the alarm or change it for one with a silencer button.
• In the event of a fire ‘Get out, Stay out, Call 999!’ – Don’t delay for valuables, don’t investigate or try to tackle the fire. Use a mobile, a neighbour’s phone or a phone box to call 999. If someone needs to be rescued wait safely outside for the firefighters who have the equipment and training to do it. Never go back in.
If you would like a free home safety check, please contact your local community fire station.
For advice on fire safety, please go to www.twfire.gov.uk or www.direct.gov.uk/firekills.
To find out more about Child Safety Week go to the CAPT website www.childsafetyweek.org.uk
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