30 October 2007 10:00 Central Networks’ schools safety truck powers into Oxfordshire

Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, is taking its electricity safety vehicle into three Banbury-area schools to teach children about the dangers that electricity can pose. 

Children from St. Mary's Church of England Primary School, Cropedy Primary School and Chipping Warden Primary School will play laptop games to identify hazards, have a go at solving puzzles and watch a safety video in the specially-designed truck.

With an emphasis on learning through fun, the truck also features a "Hazard Valley" - a model landscape with both urban and rural scenes containing potential hazards for the children to spot.

Anita Davis, Network and Public Safety Adviser with Central Networks, said: "Safety is a big priority for us and the Power Discovery Truck is a great way for us to communicate safety messages to kids in Oxfordshire.

"Most people are aware of the dangers associated with electricity in the home, such as not switching on lights with wet hands and being careful around wall sockets.

"But they also need to be aware that there are many potential dangers outside the home - substations, pylons and overhead power lines are all things people take for granted but which can also be very dangerous if not treated with respect.

"By taking the truck to schools we aim to use a fun and interactive way to get the important message across that the electricity distribution network is very safe as long as you treat it with that respect."

The brightly painted truck is fitted out with a range of activities designed to make it fun and exciting for visiting youngsters to learn key safety lessons.

The Power Discovery Truck is a free educational resource for primary schools across the Midlands. Teachers who would like to request a visit from the truck to their school should visit www.powerdiscoveryzone.com and follow the directions in the Teacher's Zone.

Ends

Notes to editors:

• St. Mary's Church of England Primary School, Banbury, will be visited by the Power Discovery Truck today, 30^th October;
• Cropedy Primary School, Cropedy, will be visited by the Power Discovery Truck on 6^th November;
• Chipping Warden Primary School, Chipping Warden, will be visited by the Power Discovery Truck on 20^th November;
• Central Networks brings power to 4.9 million customers across central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
• Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information contact:

Jamee Majid on 024 76188 3679

A selection of Central Networks pictures, including images of the Power Discovery Truck, is available free of charge to the media by registering at www.newscast.co.uk and looking under Distribution