Online Fire Training for School Staff

A flexible online fire safety training from Safety Management (UK) (SMUK) recently proved very useful for a school staff training day. Beaminster School in Dorset, were the first school to run a staff training event using the new online training package. They made use of an inset day and their IT suite to give staff access to the training course. 70 staff took part in the training exercise which refreshed their knowledge of basic fire awareness and fire extinguishers.

Based on SMUK’s popular practical fire safety training, the course offers instant fire safety training to large numbers of delegates all at once. Licenses are issued on a per user basis on an annual cycle. This course can be accessed from a standard PC and takes the user through the basics of fire safety in the workplace. There is no time limit for the training, so each candidate can progress at his/her own pace.

Online training is very a cost effective solution as it just relies on the user sitting at a computer with his/her thinking cap on. Furthermore, it is a simple way of providing training to large numbers of people as they don’t all need to be in one place, and offers minimal disruption to business.

The course content is presented in the form of a series of webpages, with candidates progressing through each slide/page in turn at a comfortable pace. The course includes presentation notes prepared by a former Fire Officer, photographs to illustrate each key point, a voice over, several videos demonstrating best practice and key questions at each stage of the training to check the candidate has understood the content.

Online training is designed to sit alongside a long term practical fire safety training strategy. It does not replace face to face training, but rather complements it. A typical three year strategy would feature two consecutive years of online training, followed by a practical training session in the third year.

Brian Gregory, Managing Director, said:- "As a company we have always strived to be at the forefront of technological development in our field. It was a pleasure to work with Beaminster School on this project and to see them making use of the online training system. The ability to provide instantly available fire safety training to vast numbers of their staff can only benefit safety standards. I look forward to seeing the system grow over the coming year."

David Withers, Headteacher, Beaminster School, said:- "The online fire safety training programme provides accessible training that allows staff to complete an essential bit of ‘refresher safety training’ at their own pace and at a time to suit them - in school or at home if they prefer. The information is supported by a commentary with photos, videos and simple Q&A slides that ensures you are made to concentrate and absorb this important information! If you want to get all your staff trained/refreshed in the basics of fire safety and don’t want to sit through face to face practical training every year - this is a good option."

If you use this service and have any comments to make about it, please let our newsroom know via emailing us at:- news24@southportreporter.com with your ideas and views about this service provided by:- safety-managementuk.com.

JOIN THE BIG BEAR HUNT

ORDINARILY if there was a bear on the loose we’d encourage you to stay indoors but over the Bank Holiday weekend, Monday,
30 May and Tuesday, 31 May 2011, between 1 and 4pm, the Norton Priory’s Rangers need your help!   Along the way there will be stories, games and crafts for families with free admission for under 5 year olds.

All fearless bear hunters will be given full training on arrival including an introductory spot the teddy bear task to hone observational skills and hand eye co-ordination will be developed in an activity to catch paper butterflies. A woodland trail kit will be provided to help all bear hunters identify animal footprints to ensure they’re tracking the bear and not the resident badger and most importantly all bear hunters will need to make bear ears to provide them with official camouflage before setting off on the hunt, led by Paul the bear expert and Head Ranger.

Paul tells us:- "It’s very unusual to find bears in Runcorn and we’re pleased that the one loose in the garden is very friendly, however it’s always good to have the support of fully trained hunters when on the hunt for such a big animal."

All successful hunters will be awarded with a Bear Hunters licence. The hunt will take place between 1 and 4pm so arrive early and enjoy a picnic in the grounds so you’re not searching on an empty stomach. Normal admission applies, season ticket holders free.

 Bear Necessities at Eureka! The National Children’s Museum

THIS spring half term, look for the ‘Bear Necessities’ at Eureka! The National Children’s Museum. Bring your teddies along for a week of adventures, stories and songs every day from Saturday, 28 May 2011 to Sunday, 5 June 2011.

On weekdays ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ and we’re going to catch a big one! Inspired by the classic Michael Rosen story, visitors will embark on an outdoor adventure led by intrepid Eureka! explorers through the sense-ational playful Wonder Walk. As bears are known to go out in all weather young explorers are advised to dress for the weather and if necessary bring their wellies, although an alternative bear hunt will take place in the case of severe bad weather. Alternatively families can also follow a teddy trail through the galleries looking for strategically placed bears.

Weekends will be the day the teddy bears have their picnic. Families and their teddies will be able to take part in sessions where they can enjoy stories, songs and games together.  The Teddy Bear Surgery will open everyday to make sure that every soft toy is in peak playing performance. Children can check their teddy’s temperature, reflexes and blood pressure, take their teddy’s height and weight, and make sure their teddy bears or other animals are in shape for all the rough and tumble involved in being a child’s toy.   The Bear Necessities is free with standard admission to Eureka! For more information please call:- 01422 330069 or visit:- eureka.org.uk.  Eureka! is situated next door to Halifax railway station, just 10 minutes by car from junction 24 of the M62 and 17 miles from Leeds.