Crucial Crew

Colin Provins, right, community fire safety officer for Suffolk, tells children from Liberty Intermediate School, RAF Lakenheath, to shout as loud as possible and stamp their feet, while they were in the Fire Experience Unit. The unit showed a scenario with different fire hazards, and ended by being filled with smoke. Mr. Provins and other firefighters talked to children about the dangers of fire hazards, and what to do if they saw or were in a fire. The unit was just one of eight scenarios which were part of the Crucial Crew experience - an annual week-long event for local middle school children from several different schools. Nine volunteers from RAF Mildenhall were among the total of between 50 and 60 volunteers who helped make the event happen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Karen Abeyasekere)

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Crucial Crew

Police Constable Vicky McNamara, Suffolk Police, talks to children from Liberty Intermediate School, RAF Lakenheath, about criminal damage, discussing what it is and its effects. The scenario was part of a week-long Crucial Crew event for children from local middle schools and the base's intermediate school, held at Mildenhall stadium in West Row. The event was organized by Forest Heath crime prevention panel, and gives children the opportunity to experience eight different scenarios, including how to make a 999 emergency call, fire safety and Internet safety. Nine volunteers from RAF Mildenhall helped at the event throughout the week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Karen Abeyasekere)

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Crucial Crew

Children from Breckland Middle School, Brandon, take a look at examples of what could be dangerous substances, as Police Constable Helen Self, Mildenhall Safer Neighbourhood Team, explains exactly what the different items are. This scenario was part of the Crucial Crew experience -- a week long event for Year 5 local middle school children (including Lakenheath Intermediate School). They got to experience different scenarios which included learning about dangerous substances and prescribed medicines that can be found the home our outside, criminal damage, Internet safety and making emergency 999 calls. (U.S. Air Force photo/Karen Abeyasekere)

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Crucial Crew

Grant DeJesus, 11, a student at Liberty Intermediate School, practices making an emergency '999' call at the Crucial Crew event March 10 at Mildenhall Stadium. The annual event, organized by Forest Heath crime prevention panel, was for British and American school children from local middle schools. The American children were taught the difference between a '911' call (on base only) and a '999' (off base) emergency call. (U.S. Air Force photo/Karen Abeyasekere)

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'Crucial Crew' event gives children lowdown on responding to emergency situations

Published March 19, 2010
By Karen Abeyasekere
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Children from Liberty Intermediate School , RAF Lakenheath, learned how to respond to emergency situations March 10 as part of a week-long "Crucial Crew" event at West Row Stadium.

The annual event, organized by Forest Heath crime prevention panel, is sponsored by a local charity shop and the Community Safety Partnership at Forest Heath District Council. It gives children from local British middle schools, along with American children from LIS, the opportunity to experience eight different scenarios including how to make a '999' emergency call, fire safety, criminal damage, first aid, Internet safety and dangerous substances.

A total of 510 children, aged between 9 and 11, attended during the week, aided by volunteers including nine members from RAF Mildenhall. Members from Forest Heath District Council, Suffolk Police, St. John's Ambulance, Suffolk Fire Service and an energy company all provided their expertise to help the children learn how to respond in emergency situations.

"We've run this event for the last 16 years and have seen a large number of children pass through this experience, both from local schools and from the school at RAF Lakenheath," said Heather Highton, crime reduction officer, and one of the organizers of the event.

"The schools find it a very useful exercise and can use the content of the scenarios to compliment their teaching. We hope the lessons learned here will help the children to be more aware of their own personal safety, and enable them to stay safe," she said. "There has been more than one occasion where lessons learned have resulted in family members being saved from house fires."

One of the military volunteers said he believes events like this for children are a great idea.

"I volunteered for this event because I have a blast working with, and getting involved with, our youth," said Staff Sergeant Randy Stinnett, 351st Air Refueling Squadron. "In my opinion, an event such as this one is great for two reasons - first, it gives the kids an actual hands-on experience and the knowledge of how to react to such things as fires, and how to protect themselves and their families when surfing the Internet.

"Second, it's a field trip," he added. "What (child) doesn't like to get out of class for a few hours? Plus, if learning is fun, you tend to remember a lot more - I know I learned a few things myself!"