Safety in Action event at Newhaven Fort

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, along with a host of partner agencies, started a week-long Safety in Action event at Newhaven Fort yesterday. 

The event, which will give over 800 children from the Lewes District area - who are in their final year of primary school - the opportunity to practice dealing with emergency situations and learn to keep themselves safe. The event takes place between 23rd to 27th May 2016. 

The children take part in interactive safety scenarios provided by East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, Sussex Police, South East Coast Ambulance Service, Network Rail and British Transport Police, Wave Leisure, Sussex Downs College and UK Power Network.

The topics covered included road safety and personal safety, dealing with a medical casualty, reporting a fire and keeping safe, safety near the railway, water safety, alcohol safety and electrical safety.

David Kemp, Head of Community Safety for East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, said: “The project aims to teach 10 year old – 11 year old children how to deal with or avoid life threatening situations. The emphasis is learning by experiencing risk – even if they make mistakes along the way! All our partners worked together to achieve this valuable learning experience for our local children.”

Chris Denham from Network Rail said: “We work closely with the British Transport Police to keep our railway safe, not just for passengers, but for our staff and those who live near the line and our 6,300 level crossings. Working with children is a vital part of what we do, because if we educate young people about the importance of being safe around the railway, we not only protect them now, but we know they will carry that advice with them into the future.”

Each child will be presented with a workbook to take back to school in order to reinforce the safety messages learnt. Funding for this event has been awarded by the Safer Wealden Partnership and East Sussex County Council Public Health.