Kids Clued-Up on Safety in Waitaki

Waitaki school children are now better equipped with vital safety skills, thanks to the recent Clued-Up Kids programme. 

The initiative, spearheaded by Waitaki District Council's education and engagement team, took 291 year 6 students from 17 schools through a range of fun, hands-on topics. 

The programme has been running for more than 10 years and was held at the Waitaki Recreation Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

Students rotated through interactive stations covering a wide range of topics to equip them for different life situations.

Council Community educator and engagement officer Carrie Hamilton says the council is grateful to the organisations for their dedication to educating Waitaki's young people on making sensible, safe decisions.

The stations covered:

• Road safety
• First aid (with St John’s Ambulance)
• Safe use of batteries (Waitaki District Council and Fire and Emergency NZ)
• Animal safety, particularly around dogs (Animal Management with VetLife Ōamaru)
• Safety around electricity (with Network Waitaki)
• Safety around irrigation and waterways (North Otago Irrigation Company)
• Firearm safety (with Oamaru Sports & Outdoors)
• Emergency Management (Otago Civil Defence Emergency Management)
• Scooter Safety (with NZ Police and Sport Waitaki)
• Quad Bike Safety (with Five Forks Young Farmers)
• Keeping calm in an emergency - Enhance Occupational Therapy

Maheno School pupils trying out their new CPR skills, at the Waitaki Recreation Centre. Photo: Supplied