STAFFORDSHIRE moorlands youngsters have been crawling through smoke-filled rooms all in the name of safety.
Crucial Crew, Tittesworth Reservoir
The activity is one of a series of controlled sessions taking place at Tittesworth Reservoir Treatment Works as part of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s two week Safety Crucial Crew initiative.
Pupils of St Anne’s Primary School, Brown Edge, were the first to step foot inside Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s famous smoke room on Monday.
Phil Craddock, Year 6 teacher and deputy head teacher of St Anne’s, said: “We have supported this course for 10 years, since it started.
“We have always found it to be beneficial to the children, the children always enjoy meeting the different agencies.
“We think it is invaluable for our pupils, they come away a lot more knowledgeable.” Kenny Bratt, a firefighter for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are pretty much here to make the kids aware of working smoke alarms and how important it is to have one and if they’re in a situation where they need to get out, we’re teaching them how to get out and the safety procedures to follow.” The course features a mock river rescue organised by the district council and a simulated gas escape managed by National Grid.
Severn Trent, Staffordshire Police, St John Ambulance and Staffordshire County Council have also been on hand to give out top safety tips.
Also making an appearance is NHS North Staffordshire which has joined forces with students from Leek High School and the town’s Westwood College to explain the dangers of smoking in a fun, yet informative way.