Civil Defence Supporting the ‘Keep Safe’ Programme in Donegal

21 March 2018

‘Keep Safe’ is based on the highly successful “Be Safe programme” which has been running in Northern Ireland since 1990. The “Keep Safe” programme is sponsored by the Health and Safety Authority of Ireland and facilitated by Junior Achievement Ireland who bring together 5th and 6th class children from primary schools in various locations for a “Keep Safe” event.

These events have been held nationwide.On Thursday 8^th March, state agencies and regional organisations with a safety remit came together in the Aura Leisure Centre, Letterkenny to talk to children with a common message – Keeping Safe.  The event is an opportunity to present children with practical safety messages in a new and interesting way in order to keep themselves safe in any number of situations.Approximately one hundred 5th and 6th class school children from local primary schools took part in this years “Keep Safe” event. The children were organised into groups of ten. Each agency presented a ten-minute interactive scenario to their group on a series of safety issues such as road, water and coastal safety, construction safety, electricity, farm safety, traveling safely, and personal safety. The scenario was repeated at ten-minute intervals until all groups had participated. This was followed by the Fire Service providing an outdoor fire safety demonstration at the end of the event. “Keep Safe” provides an ideal learning experience for pupils, were they had the opportunity to participate in scenarios of a very high standard, interactive and enjoyable.

The “Keep Safe‟ programme has a direct link to the curriculum at primary school, with particular relevance to Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE). It will also help pupils deal with the transition to secondary school.Participants in the “Keep Safe” event, included; An Taisce Green Schools, Bus Éireann, Construction Industry Federation, Civil Defence, ESB Networks , Garda Síochána, Health and Safety Authority, Irish Coast Guard, IFA, Irish Water Safety, Local Authorities (road safety), Mountain Rescue and Teagasc.

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