Merseyside Police and Blue Light Partners host Emergency Services Day

Today our Merseyside Police Community Engagement Team joined with other emergency services to hold an Awareness Day for hundreds of young people from across the region.

More than 200 year six and seven students from schools and communities across Merseyside are attending the two-day event which started today (21 June) at the Emergency Services Centre in Seacombe, Wirral.  

Merseyside Police joined with representatives from other emergency services including Merseyside Fire and Rescue, HM Coastguard and St Johns Ambulance for a variety of live talks and demonstrations.

Today’s event invited those from the Blind, Deaf and Special Educational Needs (SEN) community, where students could engage directly with emergency workers around topics such as crime prevention, fire awareness, first aid and open water safety.

Tomorrow’s event will be attended by young people who use English as their additional language and focus on the role of the different emergency services and how and when to contact them.

Constable Laura Currie who has organised the two-day event, said: “It has been great to see all the students here today engaging with their local emergency workers, asking them questions and participating in demonstrations.

“It has given them a greater understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each emergency service as well as helping to break down barriers and encouraging them to have the confidence to contact the services in the future if they need to.”   

Susan Potter, Community Safety Coordinator, Merseyside Fire and Rescue, said: “Merseyside Fire and Rescue were delighted to support the Emergency Services Day alongside other blue light colleagues.

“Working with the most vulnerable in our communities has always been a key factor for us, so it’s been fantastic to be able to engage with young persons from the SEN community and to raise awareness around home fire safety and road safety.”

Michael Buratti, Area Commander for HM Coastguard, said: “This was an excellent multi-agency educational event which provided a fantastic opportunity to engage with young people with special educational needs and disabilities and raise awareness of how to stay safe when visiting the coast.”

Amy Randles, Project Development Officer, Uniformed Youth Fund, St John Ambulance Team, said: “The St John Ambulance team has enjoyed working with the emergency services at today's event. It has been great to collaborate with them to put on such an engaging event focussed on accessibility and inclusion.

“It's been fantastic to meet the young people who have attended and teach them vital skills that they may need in the future.”

One of the students who attended the day from Bidston Village CofE Primary School said: “Everyone has enjoyed the event today. It is a great opportunity for us to get to know the different Emergency Services and what they do to help us.

It is a great event and lots of fun. We're really pleased that PC Laura invited us. We love it when she visits us in school."