Danger Detective Academy
Have you got what it takes to be a Danger Detective?
Welcome to the Danger Detectives Academy! To be a real Danger Detective, you need to know what sort of things can be dangerous as well as know how to stay safe. Take a look below and see if you know your stuff, before revealing the answers.
Safety at home
Q1. Where should you never leave hot drinks?
Near the edge of a table or worktop where it might be knocked off; a baby’s skin is 15 times thinner than an adult’s and a hot drink can still scald a young child 15 minutes after it’s been made
Q2. How should pan handles on the cooker be placed?
So they are never sticking out at the front where the handle could easily be knocked and spill hot food and burn someone.
Q3. What should you do if your chip or frying pan catches fire?
DON’T throw water over it – it will explode! If it’s safe to do so, turn off the heat. Then “Get out, stay out and call 999 to get the fire service out”.
Q4. Should every home have a Fire Escape Plan?
Yes. Create one and practice it together so your whole family knows what to do and how to get out if there is a fire.
Q5. How many plugs can you fit into a socket with an adaptor which provides four new sockets?
It depends what appliances you are plugging in – the total number of Amps must still not be over 13Amps. Check each one and do the maths.
Keeping safe in the garden
Q1. How could you make a garden pond more safe?
Install a rigid mesh or a grille over it, fence it off securely or fill it in – better still if you have young children (even visiting ones) turn it into a temporary sand pit.
Q2. What should you always use with your mains operated lawn mower?
A ‘circuit breaker’ or residual circuit device (RCD).
Q3. Where should you put your BBQ?
In an open space away from the house, fences or overhanging trees or plants.
Q4. What should an adult use to light your charcoal barbecue?
Fire lighters and matches - never petrol or bottled petrol-like accelerant as it can explode or create a stream of fire back to them!
Q5. What should someone do if their clothes catch fire?
“Stop, Drop and Roll”. Stop running, drop quickly to the ground and roll over to put out the flames. This stops more oxygen getting to the flames so they can be put out quicker.
On the road
Q1. What are some safe places to cross a road?
Zebra crossings, subways, school crossing patrols, footbridge, islands, traffic lights with pedestrian red / green signals, with a police officer or a traffic warden. DON’T cross a road between parked cars or on a corner.
Q2. What should you always do when crossing the road?
Find a safe place to cross - Stop on the pavement just behind the kerb - Keep looking and listening as you cross the road.
Q3. How do you know that you still need a booster seat whilst riding in a car?
You are under 135cm tall. The law says that all children under 135cm tall who are under 12 years-old must use an appropriate baby seat, child car seat or booster seat – even on short journeys.
Q4. What clothing will help you to be seen whilst cycling?
Fluorescent and light coloured clothing, with reflective strips at night.
Q5. What should you always check before riding your bicycle?
Tyres are pumped up, brakes are working, shoelaces are done up, you are wearing the right clothing and your helmet fits properly.
Near the railway
Q1. Trains are powered by electricity. How much electricity do the live rail and overhead electricity lines carry?
750 Volts in the live rail and 3000 Volts in the overhead lines; your home has a maximum of 240 Volts.
Q2. When is the electricity to the railways turned off?
The electricity is never switched off - it can arc from overhead or you can be electrocuted from the live rail.
Q3. There are around 7,000 level crossings in active use on roads, public footpaths, bridleways and private roads/tracks across the railways. Name one of the features that help to reduce the risk of accidents at a level crossing?
Choose from:
- Barriers or gates manually operated by railway staff or automatically when an approaching train is detected
- coloured lights (sometimes with an audible alarm) to show whether it is safe to cross
- a telephone for the user to get permission from the signaller to cross
- gates or stiles to show where the boundary with the railway begins and ends
Q4. If a train driver sees somebody or something on the track ahead would they be able to stop the train in time?
No – trains travel at 125mph and can take the length of over 20 football pitches to stop.
Q5. What could happen if you stepped over the yellow line at a platform or were too close to the rails when a train went past?
Trains can drag you under their wheels with their powerful slipstream.
Useful links
Home safety
rospa.com
childsafetyweek.org.uk
Fire Kills
Garden safety
rospa.com
capt.org.uk
Road safety
rospa.com
talesoftheroad.direct.gov.uk/
Railway safety
no-messin.com
trackoff.org
Child safety
rospa.com
capt.org.uk
childsafetyweek.org.uk
