Part of the Etc.
Firefighters delivered a hands-on lesson in the importance of road safety at Stockton Riverside College.
The practical demonstration saw four brave volunteers cut free from a car in front of a crowd of students and staff.
Andrew Bright, Cleveland Fire Brigade’s Learn and Live Co-ordinator, said: “Looking at the data for road safety, the 17 to 24-year-old age group are nationally recognised as a higher risk group of road users.”
He said the aim of the presentation was to encourage people to take extra care on the roads and raise awareness of the “fatal four” risks.
The fatal four factors putting people at unnecessary risk on the roads are:
Andrew said: “If we can educate people about these risks, hopefully they will be better able to identify when they could be in a risky situation and how to avoid putting themselves in harm’s way. That may mean avoiding travelling with someone who they know drives too fast or takes risks, and also feeling empowered enough to speak up.”
He said: “It is really important for young people to understand that if they don’t speak up it could affect their own safety, but also that of their friends.”
By demonstrating the reality of what is involved in freeing someone from a car, Andrew said: “It shows people how involved a rescue is. It is not the case that the emergency services turn up and people are magically rescued, it is quite a technical process.”
Games Design students Jason Diggle, Jake Simpson, Asad Hussain and Nathan Oliver volunteered to sit in the car for the purposes of the emergency exercise.
Jason, 17, said: “I was first to be taken from the car and I was able to walk out. I don’t know what it was like for the other guys but watching from the side lines was scary. If that were an actual accident it would be terrifying, seeing your friends in the car.”
Asad, who was last to be taken from the car in the exercise and was lifted out attached to a spine board, said: “The bit that caught me off guard was when they put a saw through the front window. It was a weird experience.”
The practical demonstration saw four brave volunteers cut free from a car in front of a crowd of students and staff.
Andrew Bright, Cleveland Fire Brigade’s Learn and Live Co-ordinator, said: “Looking at the data for road safety, the 17 to 24-year-old age group are nationally recognised as a higher risk group of road users.”
He said the aim of the presentation was to encourage people to take extra care on the roads and raise awareness of the “fatal four” risks.The fatal four factors putting people at unnecessary risk on the roads are:
- Not wearing a seatbelt
- Being distracted while driving (for example when using mobile phones, eating or being distracted by passengers in your car)
- Speed (travelling too fast for your driving ability or the weather conditions)
- Alcohol and drugs
Andrew said: “If we can educate people about these risks, hopefully they will be better able to identify when they could be in a risky situation and how to avoid putting themselves in harm’s way. That may mean avoiding travelling with someone who they know drives too fast or takes risks, and also feeling empowered enough to speak up.”
He said: “It is really important for young people to understand that if they don’t speak up it could affect their own safety, but also that of their friends.”
By demonstrating the reality of what is involved in freeing someone from a car, Andrew said: “It shows people how involved a rescue is. It is not the case that the emergency services turn up and people are magically rescued, it is quite a technical process.”
Games Design students Jason Diggle, Jake Simpson, Asad Hussain and Nathan Oliver volunteered to sit in the car for the purposes of the emergency exercise.
Jason, 17, said: “I was first to be taken from the car and I was able to walk out. I don’t know what it was like for the other guys but watching from the side lines was scary. If that were an actual accident it would be terrifying, seeing your friends in the car.”
Asad, who was last to be taken from the car in the exercise and was lifted out attached to a spine board, said: “The bit that caught me off guard was when they put a saw through the front window. It was a weird experience.”
