Drago the Dragon encourages people to become safety heroes

Drago the Dragon, a character who has appeared in three awareness books aimed at children written by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, has his own webpage, which is part of the council's 365alive campaign, containing safety tips delivered through a variety of activities.

Children can use Drago's escape planner to write down their family's escape plan should there be an incident within the home; learn about making a 999 emergency call and how to become  a Test it Tuesday Champion by ensuring once a week that smoke alarms are working.

Child Safety Week

The advice is particularly relevant during Child Safety Week (23-29 June) and supports the Child Accident Prevention Trust's campaign, which asks for Safety Heroes to battle the Morning Mayhem.

Firefighters say that the rush to get everybody ready and out of the house in the morning to nurseries, school and to work can lead to potential safety risks in the home or on the road.

Typical morning activities can leave children at greater risk of accidents, such as being badly scolded by a hot drink; falling down the stairs or stepping out in front of traffic.

365alive

Stuart Garner, Home and Community Safety Manager for Oxfordshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service, said: "There are many practical things that parents, guardians and younger people can do to ensure safety within the home - all of these key messages are detailed by Drago on our 365alive website, with interactive games and activities designed to engage with children.

"Mornings can be a stressful time in the home and on the road for families and it makes sense to take a bit more time and take on board important messages to ensure safety.

"There's nothing more important than the safety of a child - getting into the habit of taking a bit of time to spot potential hazards in the home allows peace of mind and doing things like making sure candles and matches are out of reach and getting children involved in testing a smoke alarm once week can help save lives."

Footsteps

Mick Clarke, Oxfordshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service's Road Safety Manager, said: "When people are out and about a great way to be a safety hero is to set a good example, whether people are out walking, in the car or cycling.

"The best place for children to learn about road safety is at the roadside - parents can speak to their child about their journey, what they would do to cross the road, what route they would take and whether it is safe to cross the road."

The Footsteps Guide, which has tips about helping children learn about pedestrian safety, can be downloaded here.