St. Kitts-Nevis Fire and Rescue Services hosts annual Safety Summer Programme
By Jaedee S.K. Caines
Nevis Reporter, SKNVibes.com
 |
|
Fire Sub Station Officer (FSSO) David Stapleton
|
CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - THE St. Kitts and Nevis Fire and Rescue Services commenced the 4th Annual Safety Summer Programme for primary school students at the Newcastle Fire Station in St. James Parish on Wednesday July 09, 2008.
The three-day workshop is expected to cover topics in the area of fire, traffic and water safety while focusing on the theme “Making a safe tomorrow through the eyes of our youth”.
The opening ceremony attracted the attention of Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Ministry Joseph Wiltshire and Director of the Nevis Disaster Management Department (NDMD) Lester Blackett as well as members of the Fire Services Department.
In his remarks, Fire Sub Station Officer (FSSO) David Stapleton spoke of how the programme began.
 |
|
Students at the Safety Workshop
|
“The Fire Summer Programme started initially in St. Kitts after there was a lot of house fires, and after these fires were investigated it was then recognised that most of these fires were caused by children. The Fire Services recognised the need to educate the children, so an idea came to one of the officer’s mind ‘why not have a summer programme’, and a programme was started,” he said.
FSSO Stapleton added that the organisers had since seen remarkable improvement in the children’s awareness on the issue of fire safety.
“After several months (of the programme) they (the Fire Services) recognised that most fires that they had were not done by children, so we saw a significant increase in awareness,” he said.
During the sessions, the students will be taught fire prevention tips, what it takes to make a fire, what to do when a fire strikes, how to make a family escape plan and what to do if their clothes were on fire.
~~Adz:Left~~FSSO Stapleton also told the students of the non-fire related safety topics that would be addressed during the programme.
“You will also have a representative from the Police Department who will talk to you about how to use the pedestrian crossing safely, the importance of seatbelts and the importance of helmets when riding bicycles. A representative will also be here from the Fisheries Department and he will give some safety tips about what to do when you go to the beach,” he said.
The FSSO for Charlestown, Clarence Hendrickson, FSSO Alfred Willett and Fire Officer (FO) Alwyn Paul also addressed the gathering and offered encouraging words to the participants.
The sessions are currently being held at the Newcastle Fire Station daily from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon.
Sponsors of the event include Cable and Wireless, S.L. Horsfords Nevis Limited, Surrey Paving and Aggregate, Four Seasons Resort Nevis, Beyond Homes, the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, Myrna Walwyn and Associates, Bananas Bistro, the Nevis Cooperative Credit Union (NCCU), Delta Petroleum, the Bank of Nevis, Lefco, Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (RBTT), S. Hunkins and Sons, St. Kitts and Nevis Social Security, St. Kitts and Nevis Trading and Development Company (TDC), Addic Maynard and John Andrews.
