Cat and mouse tale that tells pupils what to do in terror attack
CHILDREN in primary schools will be taught how to flee a terror attack with a new book about a cat called Moggy.
Moggy’s Coming tells the story of a cat on the loose in a school of mice and is meant to reflect real life situations such as getting caught up in a terror strike.
It will be used in a number of schools in an effort to raise awareness among youngsters without upsetting them unnecessarily.
The book was created by the doctors behind the Citizen aid app, which advises users what to do and how best to help if there is a gunman or knife attacker or a suspected or exploded bomb.
Its messages are based on the national police message of ‘run, hide, tell’, with the charity adding a fourth message, ‘treat’.
So far, around 500 teachers in Birmingham have been trained to use the book alongside other learning aids produced by the group.
In the book a school of mice is preparing in case of a cat attack, with teachers telling pupils to run, or if that is not possible hide, tell the police and treat injured class- mates. It then shows them putting their preparation into practice when a cat turns up.
It includes words that can be sung to the tune of the nursery rhyme London’s Burning: ‘Moggy’s coming, Moggy’s coming, we’re in danger, we’re in danger, run, hide and tell! Treat the hurt mice, treat the hurt mice!’ It also features a poem, which includes the lines: ‘When it’s safe then treat the hurt / with a scarf or sock or shirt / you can pack a wound and press / to stop the bleeding for success!’
Separate materials for slightly older children show a lion escap- ing from the circus and getting into a school where it scratches some pupils in the playground.
Brigadier Tim Hodgetts, medical director of the Defence Medical Services, who developed the materials, told The Times: ‘We are passionate about making sure what we learnt the hard way in the mili- tary does get into the civilian community, to wider benefit.
‘ If there are indiscriminate attacks in public places, children are part of the public and they will be swept up.
‘It is very clear these are very unusual situations and it is about being prepared, not scared.’