Keighley event drives home road safety message to students

Several agencies joined forces for a series of activities at Carlton Keighley secondary school. The initiative – with Year 9 students – was organised by Keighley Town Council, and also involved West Yorkshire Police, the fire and rescue service and Yorkshire Ambulance Service. A special assembly was held and there was a film, an interactive workshop, demonstration by firefighters of freeing trapped casualties from a crashed vehicle – which also involved special effects make-up artists and performing arts students from Bradford College – and talks by frontline emergency workers.

Firefighter Martin Henshall, Claire McAndrew from Yorkshire Ambulance Service and police safer schools officer PC Andrew Barker all spoke to the pupils about their experiences and gave advice. Also amongst the speakers was Georgina Hurst, who survived a road traffic accident 25 years ago. And she was reunited with firefighter Peter Craven, who was part of the team that saved her life.

He’s still a serving member of the brigade. The event was staged to coincide with Road Safety Week, organised by charity Brake. Councillor Peter Corkindale – chair of the town council’s public spaces and assets committee, which funded the event – thanked the school and all those involved in delivering the sessions.

He added: “I’m so pleased with the success of the day. “This event was a first for Keighley Town Council and it has been wonderful working in collaboration with so many excellent partners. “We’re proud of our commitment to improving road safety, and the event communicated such an important message to the young people of Carlton Keighley.”

Craig Kettlewell, of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, says: “Young people are some of our most vulnerable road users so we were pleased to be part of this event, to communicate with students. We provided safety messages, and explained the role of emergency services when we’re called to a road traffic collision. “We were also able to witness a special moment between Georgina and a firefighter who had rescued her from a crash many years ago – seeing and interacting with members of the public that we help really is part of what makes our job worthwhile.

“It’s always great to work with our partners and we look forward to this event growing to reach even more young people in future years.”