Greater Manchester

First and Help The Aged to Raise Awareness on National Falls Awareness Day

First is working with the Help The Aged to help educate older people on how to avoid falls on buses.

This year the theme for Help the Ageds National Falls Awareness Day, on Tuesday June 23rd is ‘Get on Board, an awareness raising campaign on the concerns of the elderly about falling when boarding or getting off the bus.

First, works tirelessly on its safety issues, is leading the way in the bus industry to support the campaign.

We have introduced Safe Journey cards which allow its elderly customers to privately show the driver they need assistance to sit down. Messages on the Safe Journey card like ‘please wait for me to sit down and ‘please speak slowly look to address the common concerns held by these customers when boarding and communicating with the driver.

Some 10,000 Safe Journey cards will be distributed in the run up to National Falls Awareness Day along with wallets and advisory information, supplied by Help the Aged, about staying steady on the bus. Material will be available for the customer to show to the driver from June 15th.

First in Manchester partnered up with the Primary Care Trusts and Salford University to hold interactive events demonstrating the easy accessibility of modern low floor easy access buses. The events were designed to show how to board vehicles safely and build individuals confidence. The bus visited various locations throughout the Greater Manchester area on the 23rd June.

First is also looking to nominate a ‘champion at each of its 14 bus operating companies across the UK to liaise with local Help the Aged groups and will be hosting local customer workshops with suitable low floor buses at locations across the country to demonstrate industry leading driver training. Advice on how customers might also stay steady on their feet when getting on and off buses will also be given.

Leon Daniels, First UK Bus Customer Service and Communications Director, said: "Safety is the number priority for First and therefore we welcome the opportunity to work alongside some of our most affected passengers to ensure that important safety messages can be communicated successfully.

"We have met with Help the Aged to discuss National Falls Awareness Day and they have listened to our views and have agreed that it is beneficial for all involved, especially the elderly, to work together to look for positive ways to improve the bus travel experience.

"To this end as well as issuing the 10,000 travel Safe Journey cards and wallets we will also be working with staff and other stakeholders to help raise awareness of the importance of safe travel.'