The Health and Safety Authority has hosted a 'Keep Safe' event for a number of primary school pupils in Oranmore, County Galway.

The Keep Safe programme is specially designed for school children and aims to be an enjoyable and interactive way for them to learn about issues like water safety, electricity and fire safety. If children learn how to develop a safety mind-set early, they are better able to cope with all kinds of hazards and risks in life.

More than one hundred children from Gaelscoil de hÍde, Scoil Íosaif Naofa and Maree National School attended the event at Oranmore Community Centre yesterday, 08 May.

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A range of state agencies and organisations came together to deliver the programme which is directed at 5th and 6th class pupils in the schools. It aims to promote safety and community awareness through involving the children in a series of interactive scenarios with a strong safety theme.

The aims of the one-day 'Keep Safe' event are in line with the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) primary curriculum and help children to:

• become aware of personal and home safety,

• learn how to react to dangerous situations,

• foster good citizenship,

• learn how to recognise hazards and manage risks, and

• learn how to stay safe within the context of, for example, road safety, water safety, fire safety and site safety.

ESB Networks, Irish Water Safety, Construction Industry Federation, An Garda Síochána, Galway Fire Services, Bus Eireann, RNLI, Croí and Teagasc joined HSA for the event.

(CM/JG)