The service will be providing a resource box to each pre-school and nursery across the Island to help educate the children about fire safety. The box contains books, posters, a height chart, jigsaw puzzles and a smoke alarm as well as other items.
Where pre-schools book a visit by the fire service, children will also get a chance to see inside a fire engine and meet firefighters in their full outfits. They can also help fire crews use a water hose and have their pictures taken with the engine and officers.
Part of the fire service’s wider educational programme
Steve Apter, chief fire officer said: “The objectives of the visits and the resource box are to interact with the children in a friendly but educational manner they understand.
“Young children are very intrigued by things like fire engines and by getting a chance to interact with the firefighters, it helps them learn about the dangers of fire and important safety tips, such as the ‘stop, drop and roll’ message for getting underneath smoke.
“The scheme is all part of the fire service’s wider educational programme, which also includes visiting primary schools and targeting those in the community who are more vulnerable.”
The first educational resource box visit will be at Blackberry Lane Pre-School in Cowes on Monday 17 September.
