Press Release - School Fire Safety Awareness Talks
PRESS RELEASE
Friday 17th JULY 2009
SCHOOLS YEAR FOR FIRE SAFETY TALKS
The end of the primary school year has arrived and Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service is pleased to announce that they have presented fire safety awareness lessons to over 1,500 students, primarily third-class, in 59no primary schools throughout Kilkenny City & County. The lessons form part of a nationwide programme entitled 'Safety Team' which has been designed to enhance the level of awareness of Fire Safety in the Home. Fire-fighters from all seven fire brigades in Kilkenny City & County delivered the safety talks to the schools in their operational areas.
"On average every year in Ireland, 46 people die (6 of those under the age of 14) from fire in the home and over 1,000 people attend hospitals with burns/scalds", stated a senior fire officer. "The 'Safety Team' programme has been specially designed for children. Research has shown that the age at which a child receives a fire safety education is important. Children aged 8 or 9 years old, third class students, were identified as being more open to messages of fire safety and were also noted to be more willing to interact with their parents".
The programme was delivered to primary schools throughout Kilkenny City & County. "Every child who attended was presented with a copy of the 'Safety Team' pack. The pack gets the fire safety message across in a fun and effective way and includes fire safety advice, stickers, games and home checks. The school children as part of their homework were encouraged to interact with their families on the elements of the programme". Based on information that the teachers returned to Fire Service Headquarters after the schools lesson, Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service is able to conclude that over 1,500 children completed a home fire safety check sheet with their parents/guardians.
"It is about educating the children so that they in turn educate their families, making the child the ambassadors of Fire Safety in the Home. A knock-on ripple effect from the Fire Safety lessons should also occur as the children spread their new found knowledge to other family members and friends", a senior fire officer concluded. The primary schools fire safety programme is scheduled to re-commence in September at the start of the new primary school year, 2009/10.
-ENDS-
CONTACT:
Killian John Hennessy,
Senior Assistant Chief Fire Officer,
Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service,
Fire Service Headquarters,
Gaol road,
Kilkenny.
Telephone 056 - 7794400
Fax 056 - 7794425
Web: www.fire.kilkennycoco.ie
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