They say that children learn very fast and always practice what they are taught or see. When informed about fire safety, they will be able to keep their cool when fire breaks out, what action to take and teaching them can make a lifesaving difference during fire emergencies.

To ensure these good behaviours and practices among the children, Rwanda National Police (RNP) has started fire safety education programme for pupils to improve their safety knowledge and skills.

On Tuesday, December 7, the RNP Fire and Rescue Brigade (FRB) extended fire safety education to about 150 pupils of Path to Success International School (PTS) located in Kigarama Sector, Kicukiro District.

The outreach is part of the RNP programme to equip different institutions and groups of people in Rwanda with basic knowledge and skills against fire emergencies.

The Commanding officer for Fire and Rescue Brigade, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Paul Gatambira said that young children were trained on the causes of fire and the prevention mechanisms.

“Children are often curious and are inspired to manipulate separate materials and devices including those which can cause fire outbreak. It is, therefore, important to educate them on how to safely use these electric appliances such as cables, power plugs and sockets, wall switch and liquidified cooking gas,” ACP Gatambira said.

At the RNP General Headquarters in Kacyiru, the pupils were showed different firefighting equipment that RNP uses in emergency circumstances including the crane, fire trucks to rescue people trapped in buildings, underground and to extinguish the fire.

“Training children at such a young age is planning for the future of the country in all aspects of security. Such children will keep in mind what they learnt and will practice them but also teach their generation,” said ACP Gatambira.