The Primary Schools Programme (PSP) has been designed to enhance the level of awareness of Fire Safety in the home and to raise the level of awareness of Fire Safety in the community. The Programme was originally launched in Kerry in 2007 and has had positive feedback from teachers, students and their parents.

The PSP is designed to educate children in 3rd Class about the dangers of fire. Every year specially trained fire service personnel from each brigade area deliver the programme to all 3rd Class pupils of each of the primary schools in Kerry.

The participating school children are expected, as part of their homework, to interact at home with their families on the elements of the programme and thus enhance fire safety in the home and community.

To make the PSP more effective and attractive to the children a Fire Safety Pack is included; each of the 3rd Class students receiving the programme will receive a pack. Each child is provided with a Home Safety Check Sheet, which must be filled out by a family member in the home. This completed Home Safety Check Sheet is evidence of the key fire safety message reaching inside the home. This interaction puts the problem and the solution together in the same place at the same time, making it more likely that any fire safety issues in the home will be successfully addressed.

Topics included in the programme are as follows:

• The dangers of fire and the importance of basic fire prevention – A Home Safety Check Sheet is given to each student.
• The importance of owning a sufficient number of properly fitted and regularly tested fire detectors / alarms.
• The importance of a night-time safety routine check.
• The importance of escape plans and regular rehearsals.
• The correct actions to be taken in the event of a fire,
• The correct procedure for calling the emergency services,
• The dangers and consequences of hoax calls, and arson,
• The importance of informing family and friends of this education.

To book …

Typically, a primary school staff member contacts Kerry Fire Service by email to [email protected] to request and organise the delivery of the PSP to the 3rd Class(es) at their School.

A member of Kerry Fire Service at the Fire Station closest to the primary school will then contact the primary school’s staff member. A mutually suitable date and time will be agreed with the primary school’s staff member for two firefighters to attend the school and deliver the Programme.

The PSP is designed to be covered in a period of approximately one hour.

Any school interested in finding out more about the PSP for their 3rd Class students should contact Kerry Fire Service on:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (066) 7123111