Rush schoolchildren learn how to ‘Keep Safe’ with multi-agency roadshow
More than 100 primary school children have attended a Health and Safety Authority ‘Keep Safe’ event in classrooms across north Dublin this week.
A range of state agencies and organisations came together on Tuesday (November 12th) to deliver the programme which is directed at fifth and sixth class pupils in schools at Loughshinny NS, Scoil Chormaic and Rush NS at St Maurs GAA club.
‘Keep Safe’ aims to promote safety and community awareness through involving the children in a series of interactive scenarios with a strong safety theme.
Kay Baxter, 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, farm and fire safety. If children learn how to develop a safety mindset 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 involved on the day included the Health and Safety Authority, ESB Networks, An Garda Síochána, Dublin Fire Services, Bus Éireann, Water Safety Ireland, Teagasc and the Irish Coast Guard.