BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - AS the Fire and Rescue Services' 11th Annual Summer Safety Programme came to a close, the attending children proved the three-day event was a success when they displayed in song, poem and drama what they learned.
At a simple but symbolic closing ceremony yesterday morning (July 26) at the Basseterre Fire Station, scores of children who attended the programme demonstrated before their parents, guardians and fire officers, fire prevention and safety tips, traffic and water safety as well as what to do in case of an emergency.
One group sang a fire safety song to the Fire Officers while another recited 10 safety tips.
One young man demonstrated the proper way to use a fire extinguisher using the acronym PASS - Pull the pin, Aim, Squeeze and then Sweep.
A group of girls performed a short skit in which they reminisced over attending the Summer Safety Programme and how they used what they learned to help their friends.
A group from the Basseterre Division dramatised for the audience. The skit was based on a group of children that was travelling by boat from St. Kitts to Nevis for a 'beach-nic' when it capsized.
Another scene showed the children in the mountain on a hike when one of them fell and broke their leg. They also dramatised about how they used the lessons learned at the Summer Safety Programme to assist in both areas of need.
The two most outstanding children from each Division, including Nevis, were chosen to be Junior Fire Chief and Junior Deputy Fire Chief and were awarded a certificate, artificial fire helmets and gift bags.
The other children were also given Certificates of Attendance.
Delivering the Programme overview was Fire Sub-Officer (FSO) Lennox Griffin who gave details of the lessons taught at the three-day event.
"The kids were taught fire safety and prevention and they so ably displayed their fire prevention tips that they were also taught. In an effort to make the programme a bit more comprehensive, we included officers from the Traffic Department where the kids were taught about road safety, traffic safety, how to carefully cross the pedestrian crossings, the wearing of seatbelts and also the wearing of safety equipment when riding their bicycles.
"We also solicited the assistance of the Coast Guard, where the kids were taught water safety, and the dos and don'ts when they go to the beach during this vulnerable time when the kids are on their summer vacation."
FSO Griffin disclosed that the organisers of the Programme are hoping, for next year (2014) to "incorporate persons from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) where we will have the kids taught about how to respond to natural disasters, which include earthquakes, hurricanes tsunamis and volcano eruptions".
He said that the Programme started to fulfil a need to further widen the Fire Prevention Programme and to target kids within the vulnerable ages of five to 12.
"Our records also indicated that most of the fires that we responded to were during the summer time and they were lit by kids who were left unattended on their summer vacation without any supervision. We initially started this Programme with about 45 kids and we now have seen an average of about 150 participants over the years," FSO Griffin explained.
He thanked the parents and guardians for sending the children to the Programme each day, adding that it made the event the success it was.
"And, hopefully, when they go back to their homes and also to their schools, that they would help to spread the word and share the knowledge that they would have gained here with their peers as they continue to help us to protect and safeguard the lives and properties of our citizens...," he said.
He also thanked the two major contributors, Carib Supply and the St. Kitts Bottling Company, among a host of others, for their contribution and encouraged them to continue partnering with the SKNFRS as they strive to educate the youths about the dangers of playing with fire, safety and prevention methods, traffic and water safety.
Some 131 children were registered and attended the Summer Safety Programme as well as others who were unregistered.
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