Gas safety for schools
A new education and theatre roadshow has been set up by the Gas Safety Charity to enable teachers to deliver vital gas safety messages to primary school pupils aged 9-11.
The Gas Safety Charity, the UK’s voice for safe gas practices, has teamed up with Electrical Safety First and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents to form the programme, which will teach young children all about gas, from how it’s created to how it can be used to safely cook food and heat their homes.
Gas safety may not be a particularly exciting issue for children to learn about but this latest initiative pulls a number of educational resources together to bring the topic to life inside the classroom and out, including videos, theatrical performances and an online interactive house that children can explore for hazards.
The theatrical roadshow was initially piloted around 17 primary schools and has now been rolled out as a ten-week tour targeting 100 primary schools around the country.
The show focuses on the Peril family who are preparing their home for a party, when suddenly, their boiler stops working! With the help of Professor Wizzbang, Dr Sortit and a Gas Safe registered engineer, the heating is fixed and the party can begin – but not without plenty of experiments, songs and audience participation along the way.
Do you have kids? Keep them Gas Safe with these 10 tips:
- Teach them how to spot the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, such as headaches, dizziness and nausea.
- Install a carbon monoxide alarm.
- Cover exposed gas pipes and deter your children from playing around them.
- Don’t allow the gas meter to be obstructed, as you’ll need easy access to the box if an emergency occurs.
- Ensure your children understand that they should never use the oven without an adult present.
- If the central heating breaks, don’t attempt to fix the problem yourself – encourage your kids to pop on an extra jumper and call out a local heating engineer instead.
- Remind your children to keep gas appliances free from obstructions, including toys, boxes, paper and paint.
- Be aware that flames on gas ovens and fireplaces should be blue. If they are yellow, you could be in danger, so get a gas inspection immediately.
- Never move a gas appliance without the assistance of a Gas Safe engineer, as the connections could get damaged or become misplaced.
- Teach your children that all Gas Safe registered engineers will carry an ID card and they must show this in order to enter your home.