Families flocked to Bolton town centre's fire station yesterday, Saturday, to see some impressive engines, talk to brave and experienced firefighters and learn potentially lifesaving skills.
The open day was held at Bolton Central Community Fire Station on Moor Lane, one of a series of events aimed at helping youngsters have fun and learn all about fire safety.
David Frankland, who’s role with the fire and rescue service is all about making communities safer, said he was thrilled to see so many families taking an interest.
He said: “The fire engines and blue lights always interest people, especially children.
“They’ve come and they’ve had a lot of fun but also they’ve taken something in as well.”
David explained that his role involved working with businesses and other public places to help make them safer and that taking his message to the public was one of the most rewarding parts of his job.
His point about engines was well and truly proven by the flocks of children and families admiring both the latest models and some vintage equipment on display.
A JCB was also on display where people could take up the challenge of trying to gentle tip footballs into buckets to demonstrate their steady hands and calm nerves.
But the day wasn’t just about firefighters, with volunteers on hand from Bolton Mountain Rescue Service to teach children how to perform vital CPR techniques.
Volunteer David Cook explained that this was incredibly important for anyone who could become stuck in a mountainous or hilly area like those around North Bolton.
He said: “The problem with CPR is that by the time we get there, people have already gone.
“So if people have that skill themselves it gives us the advantage so we can make sure we still arrive with the defibrillators in time.”
As he spoke, volunteers were on hand to show visiting youngsters how it was done, with one mother saying her children had had a “really good” time learning such vital skills.
David said anyone interested could donate to fund the mountain rescue team’s vital work by going to their Facebook page, while recruitment events are held annually for anyone interested in starting the process of becoming volunteers themselves.
St John Ambulance volunteers were teaching similar skills elsewhere at the station, with volunteer nurse Tracy Capuano explaining that they focused on topics including CPR, how to help people who are chocking and how to help people with wounds.
She said: “You tend to find a lot of young children come along and it really is a great opportunity to teach these things to both young and old.”
To help display their skills, the volunteers had an array of manakins around the ground to perform practice CPR on.
ALSO READ: People flock to Farnworth Fire Station to meet their local firefighters
ALSO READ: Firefighters showcase their skills at fire station open day
ALSO READ: Families invited to fire station as it holds its open day
To help fund their vital work donations buckets had been left out, while visitors could take part in a guess the name of the teddy bear competition.
Tracy added that there were more than 80 young people all over Bolton on waiting lists who were interested in becoming St John’s Ambulance Cadets.
But first they need more youth helpers, like her colleague Kerry Forrest, to join to make sure they can take on as many new cadets as possible.
Anyone interested in becoming a youth helper can go to the St John’s Ambulance website.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here