Pictured are Lionel Barnard and County Fire Officer, Martin Burrell
Click to enlarge

STAYWISE , an innovative, eye-catching website promoting safety to children, is being actively backed by West Sussex County Council's Fire and Rescue Service.

As part of its ongoing commitment to educate young people about safety in and out of the home, the Service has installed STAYWISE in its new mobile Information Unit, which will be touring fairs and shows in the county this summer.

This will give pupils the chance to try out its 'Activities' pages and teachers will be able to access the professional educators' side. Their expert collaboration, comments and input will be welcomed and appreciated.

STAYWISE is a stimulating and engaging interactive, multi-media website that puts across vitally important information about environmental safety to both teachers and children in a lively and interesting way.

It has a wide variety of eye-catching features, including cartoon characters, bright colours, amusing games, 'colouring-in' and crosswords aimed at youngsters aged between seven and 12.

Martin Burrell , County Fire Officer, said: "We've installed STAYWISE because children can enjoy themselves while learning about potentially risky situations.

"Today's primary school children – and children even younger – now readily understand and have access to modern technology. That means STAYWISE allows them to participate and learn at their own pace.

"At the same time, it provides an accessible, versatile and easily maintained educational tool for teachers and emergency services personnel alike."

Lionel Barnard , County Council Cabinet Member for Public Safety, said: "STAYWISE is a first class way for children to learn about situations that might at first seem to be great fun but in fact turn out to be extremely dangerous.

"It proves that there is more than one way to learn and I commend the Fire and Rescue service for taking safety issues to the community in such an imaginative way.

"I would recommend that it is added to all schools curriculum as soon as possible."

STAYWISE is the brainchild of the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBF&RS), which was prompted by a startling statistic:

· Every year more than TWO MILLION children in the UK are rushed to hospital as a result of accidents in the home or on the road – and as a result more than 300 of them die or are left permanently disfigured.

Iain Cox , Chief Fire Officer, RBF&RS, said: "STAYWISE is a unique opportunity to give children the knowledge they need in their everyday lives to combat risk.

"This has been a tremendous collaborative effort and one with which we are proud to be identified".

The website can be viewed on www.staywise.co.uk .