School-children from across Fermanagh have been given some top tips to help them stay safe at a recent initiative held in the Castle Park Centre, Lisnaskea, this week.

Over 500 Primary Seven children in the Fermanagh District Council area attended the 'Bee Safe' initiative.

Councillor Bert Johnston, Chairman of Fermanagh District Policing Partnership (DPP) who funded the event said: "This initiative has been widely supported in the past and provides an innovative and interactive way to alert children to some of the dangers of everyday life. Fermanagh DPP is delighted to support this programme".

'Bee Safe' is an imaginative way of teaching Primary Seven pupils how to prevent everyday accidents and dangerous situations and how to deal with them safely and effectively should they occur. Children move around a series of accident themed scenarios in small groups over either a morning or afternoon session.

The sessions are designed to promote a high level of interaction and involvement from pupils. Participation in stimulated scenarios in a controlled environment helps children to think for themselves and develop practical experience of preventing and coping with potentially hazardous situations as opposed to simply being taught about managing risk in a classroom.

The Chairman concluded: "Injuries to children are particularly distressing and preventing them is no easy task. Training, education and adult supervision helps. Government agencies, district councils and the police service all have a role to play in creating the conditions for a safe environment for our young people but the whole community also has a responsibility to teach children of all ages the basic, appropriate skills. The challenge is to reduce the risk of injury by teaching children to cope with dangers of everyday life".