Published: Wednesday, 25th June, 2008 12:00
Emergency services join forces for Safer Summer
By Bob Lovik
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Banchory Primary School pupils receives some tips from the police on road safety.
Pic by: David Robertson
CLACKMANNANSHIRE Police are getting some help as they try to keep children safe in their Safer Summer campaign.
The fire service, community and traffic wardens and the ambulance service are all helping get the word out to children and Wee County motorists to be extra careful on the roads during school holidays.
Clackmannanshire’s emergency services got together on Friday at Banchory Primary School in Tullibody for one last push before the schools are out for summer.
The Safer Summer campaign has already been targeting motorists to ask them to watch their speed in order to keep children safe this summer.
And pupils at Clackmannanshire’s schools have been visited by police, community wardens and the fire service to give them tips on how to stay safe around and on the county’s roads.
Clackmannanshire Area commander Superintendent Andrew Price said, “School holidays should be a carefree time for children to enjoy themselves. It is important for them to be safe and free from harm.
“It is important that drivers and parents recognise that they have a significant role to play by being mindful of children and to keep their speed at an appropriate level.”
A spokesperson for Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service said, “Our heart sinks when we hear there is a call involving children. Over the years we have spent a great deal of time comforting children trapped in or under cars. It isn’t a nice experience for them or us.”
Watch commander at the Alloa Fire Station Davie Martin echoed these comments when he told the Advertiser, “I don’t know the official statistics but I would say there is an increase in accidents when the children are out of school for the summer.
“We’ve been going to schools and talking about fire safety and road safety. One thing we have to deal with a lot more during the summer is grass fires set by kids so we want to get the message out that these can have serious consequences.”
Community wardens have also been working hard to get the Safer Summer message out by visiting schools and hitting the streets.
Community warden supervisor Paul Hamill told the Advertiser, “We’ve been out giving information to parents and pupils about road safety as well as trying to target vandalism aimed at the schools.
“We’ve been to schools all over Clackmannanshire and the kids are really enthusiastic about the messages. We’ve received great feedback from the parents who are very happy to see us out and about.”
The head of the Scottish Ambulance Service’s emergency service in Forth Valley, Lewis Campbell, really drove home the importance of the Safer Summer message when he said, “Ambulance crews see first hand the devastating effects of the loss or injury of a child on a family, friends and community.
“Hopefully our children and motorists will take extra care to stay safe during the holidays.”
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