StayWise encourages families to boost safety skills ahead of Halloween, Bonfire Night and darker evenings
Free resources help children and young people stay safe around fireworks, on the roads and in emergencies this autumn
As Halloween celebrations, Bonfire Night events and darker evenings approach, StayWise is encouraging families across the UK to take simple steps to help children and young people stay safe during one of the busiest periods of the year.
The free safety education platform, led by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), has launched a range of seasonal resources designed to help parents, carers and educators turn autumn's safety challenges into valuable learning opportunities.
From firework safety and road awareness to emergency preparedness and location sharing, the resources help children build practical skills that could make a real difference if something goes wrong.
Autumn can bring increased risks as children spend more time outdoors after dark, travel to seasonal events and take part in Halloween and Bonfire Night activities. StayWise is encouraging families to have simple conversations about staying visible near roads, attending organised firework displays, avoiding dangerous anti-social behaviour and knowing what to do in an emergency.
StayWise brings together trusted educational content from emergency services and partner organisations, providing free, curriculum-linked resources that help children and young people stay safe at home, at school and in their communities.
To support families and educators this autumn, StayWise has created a collection of engaging activities and lesson materials covering Halloween, Bonfire Night, fireworks safety, anti-social behaviour and road safety. The resources are designed to make important safety messages accessible, practical and fun.
Sarah Mason, Head of Prevention at NFCC, said:
"Autumn is an exciting time of year for children and young people, but it also brings a number of seasonal risks. Whether it's crossing roads in darker conditions, staying safe around fireworks or knowing what to do in an emergency, small conversations can make a big difference.
"Our free StayWise resources help families, carers and teachers build children's confidence and safety awareness in a fun and engaging way, helping them develop skills that could stay with them for life."
The platform is also shining a spotlight on its free what3words activity packs, which help children and families understand how sharing an exact location can help emergency services respond more quickly when every second counts.
Developed in support of the annual #KnowExactlyWhere campaign, the resources use interactive, hands-on activities to teach children the importance of location awareness and how to communicate where they are if they ever need assistance.
what3words has divided the world into unique three-word addresses, making it easier for people to identify and share precise locations. The technology is used by emergency services across the UK and can help responders find people faster when accuracy is critical.
With Road Safety Week taking place in November, StayWise is also encouraging families to make road safety part of their daily routine. Reduced daylight hours and poorer weather conditions can make it harder for drivers to see pedestrians and cyclists, highlighting the importance of visibility, awareness and safe travel habits.
Families, carers and educators can access all StayWise resources free of charge, including seasonal safety activities, emergency preparedness materials and road safety resources, at StayWise.