29/1/2008

News

Miniature uniforms will help youngsters with fire safety

THE latest tool in fire safety lessons has been unveiled in a bid to capture the imagination of children.

Surrey Fire and Rescue, supported by Weybrige business P&G, have purchased replica firefighting kit for children to wear when visiting fire stations.

Following a £5,000 donation from the company, fire safety education manager, Mark Taylor said: “The aim of the replica jackets is to allow children to really submerge themselves into the world of the firefighter. 

“When dressing up, children pay close attention to the role they’re taking on and at the same time, absorb some of the important fire safety messages they are being given.

“The jackets are made to look like the firefighters’ personal protective equipment in order to make them as realistic as possible. 

“There will be 30 jackets kept at each fire station in a range of sizes, which we envisage will be worn by a number of groups from school children to scouts — any young person aged between 4 and 10 taking a tour of the station.”

Janette Butler, community matters manager at P&G, said: “P&G’s Community Matters programme focuses on the health, welfare and education of children. 

“I recently watched a training session, which was given at a local primary school by one of the Community Safety Education Officers.

“It was fun and so engaging for the children and I felt that the replica kits should be provided to ensure maximum interaction.  P&G was delighted to help.”

For more information visit: www.surrey-fire.gov.uk.

First printed in: News & Mail Series