Trip to Kendal Fire Station

HT5 visited Kendal Fire Station as part of their learning about ‘Keeping ourselves safe’ in PSHE and Life Skills. The class were taken into a meeting room and met the fire fighters and the station manager Meg who explained to the students what they did, how they kept people safe and that they do not just fight fires. Students were given the opportunity to ask questions, Henry was particularly interested in how they help trains, Tom explained how they have helped at a train crash and how this was caused, but help in many other types of vehicles accidents. Learners also learnt about specialist acronyms that the fire fighters use e.g. RTC being road traffic collision, rather than accident due to insurance policy.

Learners also asked about how they could become fire fighters and the process of enrolment involved a sit down chat interview, the bleep test to level 8 and a fitness test which had to be completed within 14 minutes involving all the equipment. When the students got back to school they had a go at the bleep test which tired everyone out!

Learners were given multiple examples of when a person may be in need of the fire service and how they are safer strangers. Learners answered questions about what qualities you may need to be a fire fighter, Adam answered “team player”, Jayden answered “to be fit and healthy” and Max answered “to be friendly and polite”. Each learner listened very well and showed great maturity!

After the questions, learners were able to go downstairs and explore the fire engines, hold and have a go with some of their equipment e.g. a spreader, which is used to open car doors in an accident. They also had a look around the rescue boats and an in depth tour of the fire truck which involved getting a photo took from inside. A fire man drove the truck outside and let the Learners use the hose and then they got to see how a fire hydrant is used to refill the fire truck.