Jamaica Fire Brigade focused on children for fire safety week
THE JAMAICA Fire Brigade (JFB) is observing Fire Safety Awareness Week this week with a number of activities that are targeted at children.
Assistant superintendent of the Kingston and St Andrew Fire Prevention Division, Nicholas Ogilvie, said that children play a significant part in the brigade’s strategy to reduce domestic fires.
He contends that when children are taught about fire safety, they will pass on the techniques to their parents and peers.
“One of our key stakeholders is children. When you get an opportunity to teach them, they will help to reinforce that information. It’s like training the trainers,” he pointed out.
He noted that each fire division and station across the island will be engaging schools in a number of activities.
“They (students) will not be there as spectators. They will be competing in how to use a fire extinguisher, how to do basic first aid and how to do search and rescue,” he informed.
The week of observance, under the theme ‘Empowering our People for a Fire Safe Jamaica’, got under way with a church service at Faith Cathedral Deliverance Centre on Waltham Park Road in Kingston.
Other activities for the week include disaster riskreduction expositions in May Pen, Clarendon; Lucea, Hanover; and Port Maria, St Mary.
On Friday, a fire-safety exposition will be held at the waterfront, downtown Kingston, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Assistant Superintendent Ogilvie is encouraging Jamaicans to participate in the expos in order to increase their knowledge about fire safety.