A thousand schoolchildren will be learning vital safety lessons first hand when Crucial Crew returns to south Norfolk.

This will be the seventh year the interactive event has been held in south Norfolk, which was the first area to host one in Norfolk. It is also the 20th Crucial Crew to be held in our county.

Co-ordinated by Norfolk County Council's Fire and Rescue Service, the week-long event - which uses ten-minute interactive sessions to teach crucial safety tips - takes place at Easton College from Monday (July 7).

It features theatre-style, interactive scenarios recreating hazardous situations to which children may be exposed in their everyday life.

Pupils are placed in situations which simulate potential danger, such as a bedroom fire. The experiences seek, within a controlled environment, to raise awareness and provide practical and memorable advice on what to do.

Agencies attending this Crucial Crew are:-
 
Forestry Commission - Forestry Safety
Youth Offending Team - Anti Bullying
Matthew Project - Alcohol/Smoking/Drugs awareness
H.M. Coastguard - Seaside Safety
Simon Daniels - (Farmer) - Farm Safety
St John Ambulance - First Aid
Trading Standards - Shopping Safely
Norfolk Constabulary - Personal Safety
South Norfolk Environmental Health Department - Kitchen Safety
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service - Fire Safety

Richard Rockcliffe, Cabinet Member for Fire and Community Protection, said: " Crucial Crew goes from strength to strength. I have been along to several events and am always impressed by just how effective the hands-on, interactive approach is at engaging youngsters.

Mr Rockcliffe added that a big thank you must go to Easton College for their continued support and help with the venue.

The event is being sponsored by South Norfolk Council and council chairman Councillor Margaret Dewsbury said: "I have no doubt that Crucial Crew has saved young lives during the many years it has been running. That's why we support it and why I will be attending.  South Norfolk is a safe place to live, but we must never be complacent. Reaching our youngsters early with events like this makes all the difference."
 
Andy Lyle, Area Manager (Central) at Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: "This will be the 20th Crucial Crew event Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service has co-ordinated alongside its partners, which is a fantastic achievement. Every year several thousand children learn vital safety lessons, helping to make Norfolk even safer. We hope the yougsters learn to keep themselves safe but will also act as excellent ambassadors making sure their families are safe too."

Mr Lyle said Crucial Crew was part of the fire and rescue service's continued drive to make Norfolk even safer. The service offers free Home Fire Risk Checks to ensure people stay safe in their homes, he added.

Anyone wanting further details should visit the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service website www.norfolkfireservice.gov.uk or call free on 0800 9178137.
 
Munchtime of Great Yarmouth are providing support with the refreshments to Crucial Crew.