Family effort to keep kids safe

FIREWISE: All students at Mangateretere school were able to take home a fire alarm to keep their family safe, all thanks to the fundraising of Matau Stewart. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN.

A Hawke's Bay mother and son have banded together to ensure students are safe, both at school and at home.

When a fire alarm rang out through the small Mangateretere school yesterday morning some of its students did panic - after all, this was their first experience of a fire frill.

But they soon remembered what to do and ducked under their desks until the "earthquake" was over, then filed out of the school's two classrooms and assembled on the field - as they would in a real fire.

Just hours before, most of the children had not known what to do if an emergency occurred while they were at school.

The low-decile school near Hastings had not undergone any recent form of emergency preparedness as just a term ago, it was looking close to shutting its door with a dwindling roll of just 15.

However since principal Mona Stewart came out from retirement to take over the reins of the school, its roll has increased to 37. This means activities like yesterday's, which keep children safe and improve their knowledge, are set to become more common.

Yesterday's event was organised by her son, Matau. He is a Health and Safety adviser for Z and was using his paid skilled volunteering leave to offer his expertise by helping the school be prepared for fire and other emergencies.

He prepared the students for yesterday's evacuation drill and taught them how to respond to different emergencies.

"This emergency preparedness is giving them the knowledge of what to do, not just at school, but at home," he said. "It's a life skill. Now, even the little ones know where to go and what to do."

The skill was not lost on Kupa, 8, who said he now knew he had to "get out" in a fire, and to leave everything behind even if he didn't want to.

This was echoed by 8-year-old's Lukqas and Dayton,who said they had also enjoyed hiding under their desks during the "earthquake".

Joining them at school yesterday were also members of the Fire Service, who were able to give tips on the pupils' evacuation and speak to them about the importance of fire safety and a home escape plan.

This meant yesterday's lesson would not stay at school. It was hoped the children would be able to take what they had learnt yesterday home, to educate their families about the best ways to be prepared.

As well as their new knowledge, each child was able to take home a smoke alarm - which had been bought with proceeds from Mr Stewart's fundraising at Z corporate offices.

After the evacuation, the principal said she was pleased with how the evacuation had gone and glad the school would have a plan in place for the future.

"At least we know they'll be safe, that they know where to go if something happens," she said. "You never know when the next earthquake might hit."