SCHOOLCHILDREN witnessed an earthquake and train derailment outside their school on Friday – but there were no injuries or damage to the building because it was all part of a school project.
Year 6 pupils of Brookside Primary School were given an insight into how the emergency services work when a major incident happens.
PCSO Claire Whomes organised the event with the help of the fire and ambulance services.
A mock train crash was set up in the Year 6 classroom to show the young people how casualties are rescued.
Some of the pupils were trapped in the crash while others helped the fire and rescue service to free trapped passengers, and a third group started to treat the injured with paramedics.
After the injured were freed, a police forensic expert came along to show pupils how to gather evidence that could be used to identify bodies or find out how the accident happened.
PCSO Whomes said: “The children were really enthusiastic and interested in all the different parts of the investigation and rescue.
“We chose an earthquake and train crash to coincide with their current school project on natural disasters.
“We tried to make it as realistic as possible by putting up things like mock electricity wires where pylons had fallen down and setting up people as spotters to make sure no-one was injured by them during the investigation or rescue.”
In the afternoon the pupils learned about the Press and how the police give out information during a major incident.
They then produced their own newspaper articles about the day’s events.
PCSO Whomes added: “Events like this not only educate young people about the emergency services, it also gives them a chance to get to know their local officers and build up trust and understanding of the police.”
