November 9th, 2012

Safe Communities House open for visitors

Children from Onekawa School will receive a graphic illustration of what can happen when you play with matches, at the official opening of the Safe Communities House.

The house was built by the Certified Builders Association with support from local businesses and includes two identical children’s bedrooms – except that one has been gutted by fire. The house also has a kitchen area where kids can play ‘spot the hazards’ based on ACC’s “Home Safety Action Week 2012” message “Fight the Five Home Hazards”. The game involves identifying the five common home fall hazards - moss, puddles, power cords, rugs and chairs.

The house has been built at the Hastings Fire Station, as part of an education programme that is run by the Fire Services Community Risk Reduction Team. The aim of the programme is to increase awareness of the risk of fire and promote home safety messages. It is expected that around 2000 children and caregivers will visit the Safe Communities House each year.

Napier Mayor Barbara Arnott “The house is a great asset for Hawke’s Bay and will become a very visual way of promoting key home safety messages. As part of Napier’s commitment as an accredited International Safe Community we are pleased to be part of this project.”

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule says “The NZ Fire Service, local businesses, ACC, Safer Napier and Hastings District Council have combined their resources to develop this unique way of engaging with children, adults and caregivers. Everyone who visits the Safe Communities House will leave with a greater awareness of these important home safety messages.”

Sally Phelps, ACC Community Injury Prevention Consultant says Safe Communities is a project which encourages agencies and community groups to work together in an effort to improve community safety.

“We all have a part to play to improve safety, health and wellbeing in our community” Sally says.

The Safe Communities House will be officially opened on Thursday 15th November at 10.30am. To book a visit to the Safer Communities House, call the Hastings Fire Station on 06 870 4925

Safe Communities is a World Health Organisation (WHO) concept that recognizes safety as

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