Schoolchildren were competing today in the first regional heat of the "life skills" safety quiz organised by the county fire service.
Year 7 pupils were dealing with rapid fire questions in the Be Cool Be Safe competition which teaches 11-year-olds all about general safety including tips on how to stay safe with fire, water, on the roads and railways, how to deal with school bullies, facts on alcohol and tobacco, and what to do in an emergency.
Hosting the western regional heat in Shrewsbury this morning was The Grange School with competitors also from schools at Belvidere, Mary Webb, Meole Brace, The Priory, Sundorne, Wakeman and Corbet School. This afternoon youngsters from Wrockwardine Wood School in Telford were hosting the eastern heat with pupils from Abraham Darby, Idsall, Ercall Wood, Sutherland, Phoenix, Madeley Court and Lord Silkin.
They have all been studying hundreds of facts, figures and expert advice compiled into a 28 page magazine and accessed on the Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service website at www.shropshirefire.gov.uk
Road safety officers', police, fire, Community Safety Partnerships, and alcohol and drug professionals have all contributed to the information.
"At Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service we are working to prevent accidents from happening. That is the serious message behind the quiz, said Lynn, the Youth Officer with the fire service, who compiled the magazine.
"We have got all the fire safety advice for children at home and on holiday as well as details on hoax calls, arson, fireworks, bonfires and the necessity of smoke alarms and a whole lot more about general safety.
"The quiz is exciting and fun for pupils and gets important lifesaving educational messages across to 11 and 12-year-olds in an interactive style. They take the safety messages home and educate their parents about what they have learned."
A total of 6,000 booklets have been delivered to Shropshire schools for teachers to use as part of a lesson plan. Regional heats are being held across Shropshire culminating in a grand final at Easter.
This is the 5th Be Cool Be Safe quiz in its new format. In the year 2000, 16 schools took part and last year there were 37 out of Shropshire's 45 schools involved.
The event culminates in post quiz parties at night clubs in Telford and Shrewsbury for all participants.
