Primary pupils urged to answer the gas safety challenge

Primary pupils across Wales and the south west of England have their final chance to rise to the challenge to get creative whilst also learning vital information about gas safety.

The call comes from gas emergency and pipeline service, Wales & West Utilities, which is running its annual ‘Get Creative, Be Safe’ competition. The company is urging youngsters across the area to come up with creative ways to inform others about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) – before the 11 June deadline.

Carbon monoxide (CO), known as the ‘silent killer’ because you can’t see it, smell it or taste it, accounts for 40 deaths in the UK each year and now, as part of an ongoing education drive, the company is calling on youngsters to help spread lifesaving information.

As part of the annual ‘Get Creative, Be Safe’ competition youngsters in both Key Stages 1 and 2 (ages 5 to 11), are urged to put their artistic skills to good use and produce an eye-catching poster, poem, film or song, which is both informative and accurate, and warns of the dangers of CO poisoning and how to avoid them.

The competition is part of the national Safety Seymour Programme, which is aimed at Key Stage 1 pupils and features games, drama and craft to help them and their families stay safe from the dangers of carbon monoxide in their homes.

Wales & West Utilities Head of Emergency Service, Clive Book, said:

“We want people to stay safe from the deathly dangers of carbon monoxide poising which is why we’re urging young children to come up with creative ways to help spread the gas safe message.”

As part of the competition youngsters will be in with a chance to win money for both themselves and their school or organisation. Wales & West Utilities will judge entries and pick four area winners – two from Key Stage 1 and 2 in both Wales and south west England – who will personally receive £150 and £300 for their school / organisation (which can include uniformed organisations such as Cubs or Brownies). The regional winners will go forward to a national final, where they have a chance to win a further £300 for themselves and £600 for their school / organisation.

Entries should be sent to COSafetyCompetition@energynetworks.org and must be received by 11 June 2021. More information can be found at: https://safetyseymour.co.uk/competition/.

Clive added:

“There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs – including cash prizes for both the winning entrant and the organisation they’re representing.

 “We continually work hard to raise awareness of the deathly dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and this competition, and the wider Safety Seymore programme, is a key part of that. The competition is an enjoyable way to improve carbon monoxide awareness and I would encourage as many young people as possible to enter.”

Known as the ‘silent killer’, accidental – and therefore preventable – CO poisoning is responsible for around 40 deaths, 200 hospitalisations each year. In the UK, there are more than 4,000 visits to Accident and & Emergency for treatment of CO poisoning – which can often lead to lasting neurological damage.