Last updated 16:03, Wednesday, 06 August 2008

PUPILS from the recently-closed Ehenside School have had a first-hand look at what it is like to be a firefighter.

POINT AND SHOOT: Sean Williamson, from Frizington, is shown firefighting skills by Ian Ridley .

The Year 10 pupils, under the supervision of Whitehaven’s Blue Watch, participated in activities including wearing mock breathing apparatus and going into a darkened room to find objects

They used infra-red equipment to identify hot spots, connecting and running the hose, and making a dam to hold water.

The two-day project also featured an extraction exercise, which required the pupils to come up with a solution to extract a ‘body’ safely from a car.

The scheme was run as part of the Key Stage 4 Engagement Programme and was organised by Carolyne Taylor, the 14-16 engagement manager at Lakes College, and Mark Smith, watch manager for community safety.