02 July 2008 11:37 Central Networks’ schools safety truck powers into Worcester
Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, is taking its electricity safety vehicle into four Worcester schools this month to teach children about the dangers electricity can pose.
Children from St George's, St Clements, Cranham and Broadheath primary schools will play laptop games to identify hazards, have a go at solving puzzles and watch a safety video when the specially-designed truck visits.
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.
"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.
"The start of some of our lessons are often interrupted by a child, full of bravado, saying they and their mates have gone into substations in the past.
"It's only when they continue their lesson that those children fully appreciate how dangerous their actions have been and we are fairly sure that they will think twice about it in the future."
The Power Discovery Truck is a free educational resource for primary schools across the Midlands. 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.powerdiscoveryzone.com website is especially designed for children, with fun activities to teach them about electricity, and how they can learn to recognise the dangers around the home and in the street. The website contains jokes, projects, games and fascinating facts.
Teachers who would like to request a free visit from the truck to their school - and a free resource pack with classroom ideas - should visit www.powerdiscoveryzone.com and follow directions in the Teacher's Zone.
The Power Discovery Zone truck will visit St George's CE Primary School Villiers Primary School on Monday, 7th July and St Clements Primary School on Thursday, 10th July.
The truck will go on to visit Cranham Primary School on Tuesday 15th July 15 and Broadheath Primary School on Thursday 17th July.
Ends
Notes to editors:
- 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:
Andrew Barrow on 024 76188 3677
A selection of Central Networks pictures is available free of charge to the media by registering at www.newscast.co.uk and looking under Distribution