Safety First at Crucial Crew

Pembrokeshire schoolchildren have been taught valuable safety lessons in 'Crucial Crew' at Withybush, Haverfordwest.

Year Six pupils from all over the county met with the police, fire brigade and many other agencies to learn about various dangers.

"The aim was to make sure that children are aware of the hazards present in all environments - whether that be at home, in the street, or on a beach, for example," said Councillor Brian Hall, Cabinet Member for Transportation and Environment.

He explained that the sessions were designed to be interesting and interactive.

"For example, police officers teaching children about 'stranger danger' would leave for a few minutes, while a plain-clothed officer would ask them to help him load some boxes into a car outside," he said.

"Some children would go, but others would stay. Afterwards, the children were gathered together with the police to discuss the issue fully and to learn from the experience."

Approximately 1,450 ten and eleven-year-olds from most Pembrokeshire junior schools spent a morning or afternoon at the event, which is now in its 11th year.

Among the new attractions was a tour round a Dyfed Powys Police helicopter and a new Recycling Awareness workshop introduced by Pembrokeshire County Council.

The organisations taking part were Dyfed Powys Police, Mid and West Wales Fire Brigade, Welsh Ambulance Service, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Pembrokeshire County Council's Road Safety Unit, Waste Strategy Section, School Transport Division, and Food Safety Unit, Western Power, the Family Abuse Centre, and the National Farmers Union.

Each child went home with a goody bag including a T-shirt, fun stationery and safety advice. The event was co-ordinated by John Gobbi, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Road Safety Officer, and sponsored by Texaco and Powersafe.

The organisers would like to thank Malcolm Crossman, the General Manager of the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society, and his staff, for supporting the event.