‘Hands-on’ display teaches fire safety

Primary school children from across Swindon have been learning the importance of fire safety, thanks to Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service.

The Service has been working with colleagues from Wiltshire Police, Great Western Ambulance Service, Southern Electric and Swindon Borough Council to run the three-week long Junior Good Citizen programme for some 1,300 Year Six students (10 and 11 year olds), drawn from 34 schools.

Junior Good Citizen is designed to help children avoid putting themselves at risk of accident or injury, by raising their awareness of situations where something could happen. It also encourages them to respond appropriately to emergency situations, and shows how being a 'good citizen' can create a safer community.

Firefighters from Swindon and Westlea have been running an exercise where children see a smoke-filled building and have to make an emergency 999 call, while also warning people inside the building of the danger.

Co-ordinator Sue Foord, acting crew manager at Swindon Fire Station, said that the emphasis was on having fun while learning. "Before the schools come to Junior Good Citizen, they receive a visit from the Fire & Rescue Service to start the process of learning fire safety. When the children are with us, they can talk to firefighters before seeing a simulated situation. This encourages them to actively participate in the visit and to think for themselves, while also teaching them valuable fire safety information."

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