School safety, security, and violence prevention resource

In your opinion, how important are demos and drills when it comes to safety issues? Fire drills, earthquake drills, and the like – many people deem these drills important in helping prepare people for possible emergency scenarios that may occur. Whether you are talking about adults or children, there just might be value in having demos and drills, don’t you think?

Apparently, in the UK, authorities have been thinking otherwise. For quite a long time – decades, even – the practice has been for firemen and rescue workers to go around local schools. Their goal has been to inform and instruct the children on fire hazards and fire safety measures. One of the highlights of their demos was to show how to put out chip pan fires.

Chip pan fires have the distinction of being considered the leading cause of injury (from fire) in Britain. This kind of fire can only be safely put out by wetting a thick towel and then placing it on top of the pan. Naturally, firemen and rescue workers tend to emphasize how to deal with chip pan fires. They give an actual demo to school children in order to show them exactly what to do in case a chip pan fire happens.

Well, at least they used to.

The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has withdrawn the actual demonstration in schools for the simple reason that it might encourage children to try it at home. Say that again?

The whole situation reminds me of those silly TV shows that have the disclaimer “Do not try this at home. These stunts are being performed by professionals.” In short, I really do not get the reason they have for withdrawing the practical demonstration. Again, why do we have practical demos in the first place? To show the audience exactly how to behave and react in the face of an emergency, right? In this case, though, I think there is more to it than showing the children how to deal with a chip pan fire. The actual demo also works to emphasize just how dangerous such a situation can be and how calm and deliberate action can remove the danger.

Just how will leaflets (which are to replace the demos) going to provide the same experience?

Understandably – at least in my mind – parents and fire fighters are not happy about the decision. My question is this: what do you think of the withdrawal of the demo? Are the concerns valid?

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