Newcastle West school children learn how to ‘Keep Safe’ with multi-agency roadshow
Thursday 26th September 2019
Over one hundred primary school children from Courtenay School, Scoil Iosaf, Gaelscoil O’Doghair and Killoughteen National School today (Thursday 26th September) have attended a Health and Safety Authority ‘Keep Safe’ event at the Newcastle West Community Centre.
A range of state agencies and organisations came together to deliver the programme which is directed at 5th and 6th class pupils in the schools. It aims to promote safety and community awareness through involving the children in a series of interactive scenarios with a strong safety theme.
Brian Molloy, Inspector with the Health and Safety Authority said, “The 'Keep Safe' programme is specially designed for school children and aims to be an enjoyable and interactive way for them to learn about issues like water safety, electricity and fire safety. If children learn how to develop a safety mind-set early, they are better able to cope with all kinds of hazards and risks in life. By bringing together relevant agencies, we can pool our resources and knowledge for the benefit of children in the community.”
The aims of the one day 'Keep Safe' event are in line with the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) primary curriculum and help children to:
- become aware of personal and home safety,
- learn how to react to dangerous situations,
- foster good citizenship,
- learn how to recognise hazards and manage risks, and
- learn how to stay safe within the context of, for example, road safety, water safety, fire safety and site safety.
The agencies and organisations that were represented on the day include the Health and Safety Authority, ESB Networks, Green Schools (An Taisce), Construction Industry Federation, An Garda Síochána, Limerick Fire Services, Bus Eireann, Limerick Civil Defence (Limerick County Council), Water Safety Ireland, Limerick County Council Road Safety and Teagasc.
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