subject: Starting Them Early: Why Fire Safety Training For School Children Is Important [print this page] Due to existing fire safety regulations, as well as sophisticated materials and technology, the number of related incidents has greatly reduced in public buildings in the UK. According to latest statistics released by the National Statistics Office, the total number of incidentswhether accidental or deliberatedecreased by 10 percent from the previous year. This decrease could be attributed to the implementation of the comprehensive Safety Order, which integrates existing fire regulations, including those for various residential and public buildings in the UK as exemplified by office buildings, theatres and cinemas, sports venues, places of worship, schools, and the like.
One noteworthy statistic, however, is the fact that over half of building fires (or around 60%) began accidentally. In this light, it is still important to be on guard against their possible causes. Nowhere is this more important than in our school buildings. Specifically for headmasters and school district supervisors, it is also important to ensure that schools comply with existing fire safety regulations. One way of ensuring utter safety is through the conduct of safety training for school employees and students alike. Here are the main reasons why safety training for school children is important.
Provision of life-saving knowledge and skills in the face of emergencies
As was mentioned above, more than 60% of annual related incidents start from accidents. This underscores the importance of having the right knowledge and skills that must be applied in the case of emergencies. For school children, they must be able to handle, for example, extinguishers, blankets, and other special equipment in cases of emergencies. In addition, they must be taught fire drills that will inculcate the proper steps that must be taken in actual incidents. Existing fire safety regulations in the UK mandate that proper safety signs be installed near related equipment and near fire exits, among other things. In line with this, school children must also be able to understand what these symbols mean. This understanding can be achieved through safety training.
Compliance with UK regulations
UK fire safety regulations require that proper equipment be installed throughout the school premises, including buildings, social halls, classrooms, and the like. At the same time, these regulations also mandate that all building occupants, including school children and employees, must undergo safety training in order to procure a license to operate (for private schools), and continued subsidy (for public schools). Thus, compliance with regulations necessitates the conduct of proper training.
Creation of a completely safe learning environment
Finally, compliance with regulations, along with the provision of proper knowledge and skills in recognizing symbols, handling equipment, and so on, ensure a learning environment, which is completely safe in the face of related emergencies. Indeed, it has often been said that the best defence is always a good offense, and this adage could not be more correct when it comes to safety in schools. By providing children with proper safety knowledge and by striving to create a school environment with a complete system against fires, then headmasters and school supervisors can guarantee their students and employees complete safety and protection.
