Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

Polzeath Beach at 04/08/2005 12:30

Cornwall County Fire Brigade, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary and The Road Safety Unit are working together in an innovative initiative to promote safety this summer.

Drivers and beach goers will be handed a ‘safety bag’ which includes leaflets, stickers and promotional material relevant to keeping them safe in Cornwall. The bag also includes a card with important telephone numbers.

“The aim of the initiative is to keep tourists safe while they stay in the County” said Firefighter Dan Fitzpatrick, a member of the team who came up with the idea.

“The bag includes information about road safety, beach and coast safety, campsite safety, fire safety, crime prevention and medical information. We have been working with the local council to ensure vital telephone numbers have been included that would be needed in any emergency”

The bag also includes a freepost card so that the team can obtain feedback. Those replying are entered into a prize draw to win a DVD player kindly donated by the new Halfords Store in Bodmin.

Ten thousand bags have been put together by the team and they intend to hand all of them out over the next few weeks. They are targeting those stuck in traffic on a Saturday, and will be handing out bags on the A30
Sub Officer Phil Cooper added: “We trialled the roadside distribution on Saturday 23rd July and handed out 800 bags in just over one hour. It was very well received by the visitors and we have had reply cards returned already.

“We intend to continue with this aspect of the campaign on Saturdays throughout August and visit Polzeath and Bude Beaches on alternate Thursdays – weather and operational duties permitting”

A risk assessment has been done for the firefighters to ensure they are safe while they are handing out the bags.

The initiative has received additional funding from the Home Office and has been supported by the BBC.