Schoolchildren were bowled over in the county fire safety quiz run by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.
A total of 48 youngsters from 12 county schools won a meal and bowling sessions courtesy of the management at the Ten Pin bowling alley in Telford.
In teams of four, the eleven and twelve-year-olds had won competitions at their individual schools after quick-fire questions on all aspects of safety.
The annual quiz is organised by the brigade’s community fire safety department to encourage year 7 pupils to learn about fire safety and other important information on how to stay safe.
Over the past few weeks, over 1,700 year 7 pupils from a dozen schools have been researching facts, figures and expert advice compiled in a Be Cool Be Safe magazine.
Children had learned a host of facts and figures including what they should do if there was a gas leak, identified that 55 per cent of people who die in house fires did not have a working smoke alarm and that there are 3,700 hoax fire calls in the UK each year.
Knowledge they learned also included staying safe with fire, water, on the roads and railways, how to deal with school bullies, facts on alcohol, drugs and tobacco, and what to do in an emergency.
Teacher Anne Rossall , from Sundorne School in Shrewsbury said: “They really loved the quiz. They have been buzzing with information. It was a fantastic opportunity for them.”
Organiser Charlie Cartwright, an on-call firefighter and a member of the community fire safety team, said: “The young people had a great time at the bowling alley in Telford. This was their prize for winning the quiz at their school.
“Through this competition, hundreds of schoolchildren have learned potentially lifesaving information. It is an excellent way of teaching life skills to young people who will hopefully keep much of the information to ensure they stay safe.”
He praised the Ten Pin bowling alley for providing the prize in recognition of the children’s effort.
The schools taking part were The Grange School, Sundorne School and Priory School Shrewsbury; The Marches School Oswestry; Lakeside Academy, Abraham Darby Academy, Blessed Robert Johnson, Madeley Academy, Sutherland School, Hadley Learning Community, Wrockwardine Wood Arts Academy and the Charlton School, all from Telford.
