Avon Fire and Rescue Service educates King’s Oak Academy students on water safety

Crews from Avon Fire and Rescue Service were called out to an academy in Kingswood recently – fortunately not for an emergency, but instead for an educational visit.

Students from years 6-11 at King’s Oak Academy were invited to observe a range of practical sessions on water safety.

They were then given valuable – and potentially life-saving – information about various water-related scenarios. The sessions focused on essential topics such as what to do and who to contact in an emergency, recognising hidden dangers under water, and what actions to take if they find themselves or others in danger in the water.

Students also learned how to use river cabinets, which are brightly-coloured stations located at regular intervals along the waterways in Bath and Bristol. These cabinets contain life-saving throwlines, which can be accessed in emergencies to help people in difficulty.

Dan Jackson, Lead Practitioner in Health at King’s Oak Academy, said: “The visit was absolutely amazing. They delivered a very important message in an engaging way which gripped the room.

“It was particularly good that they made links to hotspots of water incidents in our local community, with a particular focus on Wick Quarry and Saltford.

“I am sure all of our pupils now feel more confident about what to do in an emergency around water and how they could potentially support someone else who may find themselves in distress.”

The visit was part of Avon Fire and Rescue Service’s ongoing efforts to promote water safety and prevent accidents in and around water bodies. The hands-on approach and practical advice provided by the service aim to empower students with the knowledge and confidence to act swiftly and effectively in case of water-related emergencies.