Firefighters from Watford have been passing on their skills to teenagers as part of a scheme to help them into further education and employment.

The group, aged 14-18, spent three days working with firefighters on Green Watch at Watford Fire Station, in Rickmansworth Road, to learn about fire behaviour, search and rescue techniques and CPR as part of the Entry to Employment (E2E) Personal Development Programme.

The scheme is run by Youth Connexions, in partnership with Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. It is aimed at young people still at school or leavers who are not yet ready to directly enter into an apprenticeship, further education or work. One of the aims of the programme is to help the participants to progress to further learning or employment.

Stella James, Watford and Three Rivers Community Safety Co-ordinator, said: “The young people on this programme are helped to develop their confidence, motivation, personal effectiveness and communication skills.

"Direct experience of the Fire Service is important as it gives them an appreciation of the dangers of some of the anti-social behaviour which might be part of their community.”

On the first day, Community Safety Task Force’s Peter Chapman greeted the group at the Fire and Rescue Service Training Centre in Stevenage.

Wearing full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the group experienced the Hot-Can, a controlled, simulated fire environment, where the heat is turned up to give the group a first-hand experience of fire behaviour. They were also taught about the dangers of different types of fire and given information on fire safety.

On day two, Green Watch gave them the opportunity to learn and refresh their basic first aid skills, practicing their CPR with ‘Resuscitating Annie’.

Then outside in the yard, they were shown rudimentary search and rescue techniques, before going into the smoke house and rescuing the training dummy.

On the final day, hose-running and competition target practice provided a fun afternoon.

County Councillor Richard Smith, Executive Member for Community Safety, said: “We are pleased to be able to support the Entry to Employment Programme and hope that we can help to inspire young people in the area. We have given them an insight into the role of our firefighters and supplied them with practical information on how they can help to improve fire safety in their community.”