Dave first became passionate about teaching young children about fire safety in the issue in the 1980s, after witnessing a horrendous blaze that killed an 18-month-old girl. Her three-year-old brother had accidentally started the fire in their home.
Now, he is campaigning for his books used as a learning resource in primary schools, children’s centres and burns units throughout the UK.
Graham has already showed his support to Dave’s campaign, by writing to councils across the region and to the Department of Education to recommend the books be distributed throughout all schools.
Graham joined Dave on a visit to the hospital’s Burns Unit where the team have been using the books to support burn prevention messages as an integral part of their school reintegration programme.
Graham commented: “Fire safety is such an important thing for young children and their parents to be aware of, and I know from talking to many teachers and parents that learning about it in school really helps to get that message across.
“I first met Dave last year and was immediately impressed by his enthusiasm and dedication to this issue, so I am delighted to be able to visit the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital today to see and hear about the impact of Dave’s books on young children and staff here firsthand.
The books were adopted by the Burns Unit as a resource to help children understand and come to terms with burns injuries, after law firm Pannone donated them to the hospital last year.
Since then, the stories have proved such a popular resource amongst staff and patients in the Burns Unit, that an 8 ft x 4ft mural has been fitted in the hospital depicting Phil the Fire Engine which reads: ‘Phil says don’t play with matches and fire.’
Theresa Coucill, Burns Discharge Co-ordinator at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital said : “Phil the Fire Engine is a really fantastic character that all the kids just love. As well as being fun stories, they are a great tool for educating young children about fire safety and helping them process what has happened to them.”
Dave Fanning explains: “Although I started writing the books for use in schools, it’s great that they are now being used to help youngsters who have actually been injured in fires too.
“I think the team at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital do an outstanding job with children being treated in their burns unit, and it’s been great to actually get to meet some of the staff and young patients who have benefited from my books today. It makes me more determined than ever to see them made available to as many children as possible.”
For more information about Phil the Fire Engine please visit: www.philthefireengine.com.