Families across Kent and Medway look set to have a fun and an even safer summer thanks to a brand new activity booklet which aims to help youngsters understand how to look out for risks, and keep themselves and their families safe.

The ‘Road Trip to a Safe Summer’ is already helping children learn about the risks around road safety, outdoor safety and water safety.
                                                                                                     
The bright and colourful booklet created by Kent Fire and Rescue Service in partnership with East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, follows the fictional Byrnes family as they embark on their summer holiday staycation. The family head off in their car, then arrive at the campsite, before they enjoy a day at the beach. Throughout their road trip they come across a range of hazards and learn a lot about how to stay safe along the way.

Children are encouraged to use the stickers inside the booklet to fill in the gaps the Byrnes family’s road trip story. There’s also a chance to win a Byrnes family t-shirt by entering the colouring competition on the back page.

Families can pick up their free Road Trip to a Safe Summer activity booklet from visitor information centres in Deal, Dover, Gravesend, Maidstone, Medway, Sandwich, Thanet, and Tunbridge Wells. A number of campsites and holiday parks across Kent will also be handing the booklets out to families as they check-in for their summer getaway. (Available while stocks last).

Ian Thomson, Assistant Director for Community Safety at Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Families are already telling us they’re benefiting from the activity booklet that encourages children to think more about how to stay safe over the summer holidays - whether in the car, outdoors or in and around water. It’s all about instilling key safety messages while they have fun and enjoy completing the Byrnes family story with stickers, colouring in and having a go at a word search.

“The Byrnes family features on a range of KFRS’ educational materials, but this type of interactive booklet is a first for the Byrnes, and our fire service. We strongly believed that in order to change behaviours, our materials need to be creative and engaging for the audiences we want to reach.”

The Byrnes family illustrations are Kent Fire and Rescue Service product.