G4S conducts fire training in schools

G4S has been conducting fire training in schools with the Kenya Red Cross Society.

G4S collaborates with the Kenya Red Cross Society in fire safety and protection to increase fire protection and safety compliance. There were over 100 major fires in Nairobi and its environs in the latter half of 2009, including some in slum areas, where overcrowding and unplanned settlements impede access. The G4S/Kenya Red Cross Society partnership that began in July 2009 focuses on schools in slum areas.

Three schools have so far been trained. The free training involves a crew of five duty firemen from G4S. The schools fire safety training programme began in early July, with about 70 pupils trained by the end of August 2009.

The Kenya Red Cross Society picks the schools to be trained which are mainly in slums. There are a few challenges, including the fact that KRCS have had little success in media coverage. G4S plans to roll out the fire safety training programme to other schools as part of its CSR activities.