RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
April 30, 2002
SAFETY GOES HAND IN GLOVE FOR PUPILS
Midlands pupils have had a hand in an award-winning safety project which could save children’s lives throughout the country.
The lessons learned by youngsters from Woodgate Junior and Infant School, Birmingham, are featured on a website to provide a formula for others to follow.
And the initiative has won a Partnership Award 2002 from the Careers and Education Business Partnership, which aims to raise achievement in Birmingham.
The children teamed up with The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and West Midlands Fire Service for a design technology project as part of their national curriculum studies.
After considering a wide range of protective gear, including cycle helmets, shin pads and surgical gloves, they hit on the idea of designing an oven glove.
The nine to 10 year-olds had to be sure it stood up to rigorous safety tests - which gave Firefighter Jim McCulloch the chance to teach them about the dangers of fire in the home. He was able to stage spectacular demonstrations showing why fire is one of the greatest threats to a child’s life.
As well as making a glove that was heat resistant, the pupils also had to carry out dexterity tests so that they were certain it not only offered protection, but could also be useful in the kitchen.
Jean McEntire, RoSPA Head of Safety Education, said: “The children did a brilliant job and details have been published on RoSPA’s website - www.rospa.com – in the Safety Education section under ‘gloves project’.
“This means that other schools will be able to use the work done at Woodgate as the basis for lessons combining design and safety. Promoting a better understanding of risk in this way will help children to cope with the huge range of hazards they face in their daily lives. We believe it will make them much less likely to have accidents.
”We are delighted the project has now picked up the Partnership Award.”
The Woodgate initiative was part of a national Technology Tree project supported by the Engineering Employers Federation.
