MEDIA RELEASE 15 November 2006 Emergency Services Saving Lives Through Education Johannesburg Emergency Management Services opened their seventh Basic Emergencies Safety And Fire Education (BESAFE) centre in Ivory Park, just East of Johannesburg. "We all agree that the Fire and Emergency Services main mission is to save lives and property and to reduce the pain and suffering inflicted on the community by the ravages of fire and injury. As a Department it is our responsibility to better educate and inform the public through Public Safety Education Programmes," said Dr Gule, Chief of the Emergency Management Services, at the opening of the centre. A team of public safety educators deliver fire and life safety education information, tour the facility with the children, simulate a fire in the home, and practice safe evacuation and many other interactive safety activities. As an integral part of this mission, the centre will also adopt as part of its role the support of and participation in national and international fire and injury prevention efforts. "Children of various ages respond better to interactive and visual learning concepts," says Ester Manzini, a community educator at the centre, "the BESAFE Centre is a place where children will be able to learn about the dangers of fire in their homes, methods of prevention and practice exit drills and learn about many other types of hazards" Mayor Amos Masondo described the success that the campaign has had on teaching children and adults alike, "stop, drop and roll, if your clothes catch fire" he instructed the audience "saving lives is what this campaign is about". The City embarked on a comprehensive pro-active public education strategy in 2000 to improve the preparedness and awareness of the citizens within the City Of Johannesburg and have developed and opened a BESAFE Centre every year since, this being the seventh. More are in the pipeline says the Mayor, "the programme has proven successful in many high risk communities". Ends For further information regarding visits to the centres contact: 011 758 5050