Ref: PR1952
Date: 10/10/08

Pupils from ten schools in Wakefield are being taught how to stay safe at special sessions where they will train as Safety Rangers at Pontefract Fire Station.

The children will take part in activities to teach them about road safety, home safety, escaping from a fire, railway safety, what to do if they witness an abduction and how and when to call 999.

The activities are designed so the children learn important lessons about risk and managing safety in a fun and interactive way.

Wakefield Council is working with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, British Transport Police and health visitors from Wakefield District Primary Care Trust to organise the week of events.

The Safety Rangers will meet at Pontefract fire station during the week of 20th-24th October. The Mayor of Wakefield, Cllr Jacqui Williams will be joining the Safety Rangers on October 22 with other councillors visiting during the week of activities.

The Mayor said that any initiative that made children more aware of the dangers that they faced in every day life was welcome.

"The event is the seventh of its kind in the Wakefield area and I hope it will continue to run every year so even more pupils become Safety Rangers and learn how to keep safe," she added

Around 320 Year 5 children from 10 schools in Pontefract, Knottingley and Ackworth are taking part. The schools are Orchard Head Junior & Infants; Cobblers Lane Primary; Simpsons Lane Junior & Infants; Throstle Farm Junior & Infants; Roundhill Junior; The Vale Junior & Infants; England Lane Junior & Infants; Knottingley CE Junior & Infants; Mill Dam Junior & Infants and Bell Lane Primary Junior & Infants.

After the event the pupils will be given a certificate and goodie bag and schools will be given workbooks to help continue safety awareness in the classroom.

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