Junior Infants and Senior Infants were delighted to welcome Community Garda Karen Baxter to our school this week. Garda Baxter spoke to the children about safety, the role of a Garda, and the different units within An Garda Síochána.
The children had the exciting opportunity to handle some Garda equipment, including a badge, handcuffs, and baton. They learned about the situations in which Gardaí might use tools such as pepper spray, a baton, or handcuffs. Garda Baxter also explained the importance of her uniform, particularly her padded, high-visibility, and reflective vest, which helps to keep her safe while on duty.
A key part of the talk focused on emergency phone numbers. The children learned which numbers to call in an emergency 999 and 112 and discussed how to find the emergency call function on mobile phones. We encourage parents to show their children where this can be found on their phones and to continue the conversation at home about when and how to make an emergency call.
Garda Baxter also reminded the children of the importance of learning their home address in case of an emergency.
To round off a fantastic visit, the children got to go outside to explore the Garda car, see the flashing lights, and hear the siren, which was a definite highlight of the day!
It was a truly memorable and educational experience for all.