Children to train as safety rangers

Children aged between nine and 11 will attend a half-day course at fire stations in the Stanningley, Gipton, Moortown and Hunslet areas of Leeds during which they will take part in realistic scenarios aimed at promoting safety.

The activities will be based on fire safety, road safety, anti-social behaviour, railway safety, weapon awareness, safety on buses, and emergency planning. It allows children to experience unsafe situations first-hand in a controlled environment and they are taught how to respond to the dangers.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will work alongside other agencies to deliver the scheme, including West Yorkshire Police, the NHS and Leeds City Council.

Event co-ordinator Nazir Hussain said: “It helps the children develop their personal skills of judgement, decision-making and assessment of risk-taking, as well as giving them the self esteem and confidence to apply these skills.

“Safety Rangers is successful because we are able to put across important messages while the children have fun.”

The Safety Rangers Scheme has been running in Leeds since 1994.