In the Community

Children have a major role to play in keeping their families safe from the “fire bug”, and following a recent tour of Sol’s LPG facilities at Spring Garden, 25 participants in the 2014 Junior Fire Cadet Programme are ready to play their part.

The visit to Sol was a major highlight of the five-week long Junior Fire Cadet Programme and the students were certainly not disappointed, some even referring to the experience as their “best tour ever”. 

Hosted annually by the Barbados Fire Service, the Fire Cadet Programme caters to children ages 12-15 drawn from all of Barbados’ secondary schools. During their visit to Sol, the children were addressed by General Manager, Ezra Prescod, and Kirk King, Sales and Marketing Manager of Sol, who provided information on the LPG product and general safety procedures.

Operations Manager, Diane Tull-Knight then gave the students a detailed presentation on fire safety during which she encouraged them to be their brother’s keeper, and to caution and advise their parents and family members when they noticed safety breaches. 

Commenting on the tour, Prescod said Sol was always keen to take advantage of educational opportunities in health and safety.

“Sol’s commitment to excellence under our Health Safety and Environment (HSE) charter is of paramount importance within the company’s objectives and we are always more than willing to demonstrate this, particularly when it helps to educate young people.” Prescod said.

In thanking Sol for its outstanding contribution, Instructor and Fire Officer, Tremelle Perch, said the training presentation and tour of the LPG facility fit perfectly within the main objective of the Programme, which was to inculcate the basics of fire safety and train the children in fire prevention and response.

“We are very pleased to have Sol as a sponsor this year, and to have the children experience this very interactive and hands on tour of their facilities. Our overall aim is to develop well-rounded children who are fire-smart and this has certainly helped with that.”

This year, the Junior Fire Cadet Programme is being held at Harrison College, Crumpton Street, while its regular base at the Arch Hall Fire Station is being renovated. In addition to fire safety, including hose and hydrant drill, and the use of extinguishers, participants are also being trained in First Aid, water survival and rescue, squad drill, and knots and line.