Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service held its first “Safety Zones” event this week at The Babraham Institute.
The two day event for local primary schools was attended by approximately 250 school children aiming to learn more about how to be healthy and stay safe.
The children took part in activities and demonstrations provided by Cambridgeshire and Suffolk Fire and Rescue services, Cambridgeshire Constabulary, the British Transport Police, St Johns Ambulance, Trading Standards and the Environment Agency as well as presentations about road safety from Cambridgeshire County Council.
In one demonstration, children entered a specially adapted trailer which simulated a bedroom. After spotting the hazards in the room, it filled with (pretend) smoke and the children were taught what to do in the event of a real fire.
Community Safety Officer for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, Jim Meikle said: “I am grateful to The Babraham Institute for inviting us and hosting this important event, which represents a partnership between many services and agencies all working together to make our communities safer places.”
This event made a substantial contribution to the curriculum, providing integral elements of the five primary health and safety aims of the National ‘Every child matters’ education policy.
Suzanne Berry, Head Teacher of Babraham Primary School said: “Where else do you get an opportunity to learn about this in such a hands-on way? – It’s been amazing.”
The children also had the opportunity to learn about The Babraham Institute’s research with posters, jigsaws, games and activities explaining how our immune systems help to keep us healthy.
The Babraham Institute is keen to maintain excellent community relations and hosts events such as this to complement its existing primary schools science outreach programme.
British Transport Police at the Safety Zone event
hosted at the Babraham Institute
Contact details:
Dr Claire Cockcroft
Head, External Relations
Email: claire.cockcroft@bbsrc.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1223 496260
Mob: +44 (0)7786 335978
Dr Sarah Heaton
External Relations
Email: sarah.heaton@bbsrc.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1223 496206
The Babraham Institute
Babraham Research Campus
Cambridge CB22 3AT
United Kingdom
Emma Cousins
Press and PR Officer
Cambrdgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
Email: Emma.Cousins@cambsfire.gov.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1480 444558
Mobile: 07717 492458.
Notes to Editors:
The Babraham Institute is a charitable organisation devoted to biomedical research and is an institute of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The Institute’s research is focused on understanding the biological events that underlie the normal functions of cells and on how their failure or abnormality may lead to disease. As such, Institute scientists are striving to find cures for conditions where there is currently no treatment or where the existing treatment is not fully effective or causes serious side effects. The latest technologies are being used to study the basis of conditions such as neurodegenerative disorders, birth defects, cancer and diseases of the immune and cardiovascular systems. With a strategic focus on ‘healthy ageing’, novel approaches for tackling chronic diseases and public health concerns like obesity are being discovered. The Institute’s innovative research is commercialised through Babraham Bioscience Technologies (BBT) Ltd, which also manages Babraham’s vibrant Bioincubator on the Babraham Research Campus, six miles south-east of Cambridge. Website: www.babraham.ac.uk
