FIREFIGHTERS visited a Kidderminster primary school yesterday, to highlight fire safety issues to the children.

The visit to St George’s CE Primary School as part of National Schools’ Fire Safety Week 2010, which ends tomorrow.

Fire officers talked to the children about contacting the emergency services, advised when they should dial 999 and explained how malicious calls can waste resources and could even endanger lives.

They stressed how important it was to have a smoke alarm fitted in the house and to check it was working on a regular basis and discussed the importance of working out an escape plan in the event of a fire in the home.

At the end of the visit, children also had a chance to take a closer look at a fire engine and some of the equipment firefighters used.

Watch commander, Simon Cusack, from Green Watch in Kidderminster, said: “We covered a range of important fire safety topics during the lesson, ones that we hope the children will take home with them and discuss with their parents.”

He added: “Having an escape route worked out and a smoke alarm fitted really can make a vital difference if a fire breaks out in the home and we take every opportunity to get these messages across.”

He went on: “We tend to find that children are fantastic fire safety ambassadors and so very much hope that following our visit, they will encourage everyone at home to have another look at their own fire safety plans.”