Emergency response skills at the fore

Smart kids flocked to Molyneux Stadium last week to build their resilience and emergency response skills.

About 110 Year 6 Alexandra, Omakau and Clyde Primary School students took part in the half-day Clued-up Kids event in Alexandra last Thursday, rotating through 10 activities.

Jacqui Lambeth, emergency management advisor and civil defense event organizer, said the aim of Clued-up Kids was to build resilient children who knew what to do in an emergency.

“If something happens, they won’t panic … and they know what to do.”

Year 6 was a good age when children were ‘hungry to learn’.

“The children are really engaged and ask really good questions,” said Mrs Lambeth.

“It’s really good to see.”

Students moved in a circuit around activities with organizations including Fire and Emergency New Zealand, the animal control board, Coastguard, Puna Rangatahi — Alexandra Districts Youth Trust and the Red Cross.

Agencies were keen to take part and thought it was a good way to spread their message, Ms Lambeth said.

“We all know that messages start with children and work their way up to adults.

“Hopefully these kids can go home and tell (adults) what to do in case of a fire or organize their luggage if they need one or what to do in an earthquake.

Alexandra Primary School pupil Freya Graves said she enjoyed learning about the Alpine Fault and the possibility of a large earthquake from the fault.

Its highlight was the Civil Defense “shaken trailer” used to simulate earthquakes up to magnitude 5.

Being able to experience an earthquake situation and know that “this is what it feels like” was very helpful, Freya said.

Ms Lambeth said it was the first time the event had been held in Central Otago and she hoped it would continue in the area.

“We’ll start small and see where we go from there.”