Kids stay on the safe side (10/10/06)

Activities aimed at testing how children would cope in a range of emergency situations will take place at Kingsland Community College in Houghton Regis next week. The annual South Bedfordshire Safety Day is being extended to run over three days this year from Tuesday 10 until Thursday 12 October.

The fun, interactive event will be attended by around 250 children (aged eight and nine years old) from Tithe Farm, Thornhill, Thomas Whitehead, St. Vincents, Hawthorn Park and Downside Lower Schools.

A number of agencies will be carrying out activities throughout the day, which is being co-ordinated by South Bedfordshire District Council.

Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service will be holding a fun quiz on fire safety.

Bedfordshire Police will be providing their Mobile Police Unit for the children to visit.

The District Councils Community Safety Team will play a Snakes and Ladders game around safety. The Environmental Health Team will carry out activities around safety with food, and the Community Involvement Team will produce a simulated activity on burglary.

Bedfordshire County Councils Road Safety Team will provide road safety information and an interactive quiz. Trading Standards will also test the children on healthy eating and health hazards in the kitchen.

The St. John Ambulance Service will carry out an activity around first aid techniques.

The Safer Luton Partnership will have an activity called Gingerbread Man that will discuss the effects of drugs.

Hazel Simmons, Community Development Officer for Tithe Farm, said: "This years Safety Day has been expanded following the success of the one day event we held in 2005. The partnership approach to community safety is an excellent way to make children aware of the many hazards and risks that they may face in everyday life. I know they will have a lot of fun and learn a great deal too."

For more information, contact the Communications Team on 01582 474014.