HI-VIZ safety for sure start children

The children at Sure Start’s Blyth Valley Children's Centre Central Nursery were all smiles on receipt of their new high visibility jackets. Sponsored jointly by Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service and Draeger Safety, the jackets mean that the children can be seen easily when they leave the Centre on shopping trips and other outings.

The brightly coloured, fluorescent jackets are fun to wear and can be clearly seen during the day. The addition of reflective strips also means that they reflect headlights straight back to drivers and motorcyclists, helping to keep the children safe in poor weather conditions and at night.

Julie Scott, Nursery and Playgroup Manager of Sure Start at Blyth Valley Children's Centre Central Nursery explains, “We regularly take the children out to buy ingredients for their cooking projects and ensuring that they are seen near traffic is always a concern. These jackets will certainly help to improve their safety and we are very grateful to the Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service and Draeger for their ongoing support. We have a strong relationship with the Service which means that the children not only meet the firefighters but they will be less frightened if ever the fire brigade has to go to their homes.”

Brian Hesler, Chief Fire Officer of Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, comments “As long standing partners of Draeger, we are delighted that we are able to work together to improve the road safety of young children across Northumberland. This road safety scheme is just one of many delivered each year by the Fire and Rescue Service as part of Northumberland County Council to better protect our communities. These excellent jackets improve the visibility to all road users of children on pathways and near roads which is particularly important during the current dark mornings and nights.”

David Fenton, Head of Marketing at Draeger, adds, “We are more than pleased to join the Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service in helping our local children to keep safe near traffic. As manufacturers of safety equipment for use by the fire service and industry, we know the importance of being seen and recognising hazards. Road safety is always a worry, particularly at this time of year, and the more the children can be seen by drivers and other road users, the more likely they are to be safe.”

Further information is available from David Fenton, Draeger Limited, Ullswater Close, Blyth Riverside Business Park, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 4RG. Tel: 01670 352891. Fax: 01670 356266