Safe with Sam

**Safe with Sam** is the thirteenth episode of the first series in the Welsh dub, while it is the first episode of the second series in the English dub. It was specially made to make the audience more aware about fire hazards and keeping safe - in the credits, various companies are acknowledged for their help in creating the programme:

* First Alert home fire safety products
* Heinemann Young Books
* BBC Video
* Cardiff Media City
* South Glamorgan Fire & Rescue Service
* S4C
* Sub-Officer Neil O’Brien
* Central Office of Information
* Home Office

## Summary

There is a firework display being held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Pontypandy Fire Station. During the episode, Sam gives the audience some fire safety tips.

## Plot

It is the 50th anniversary of Pontypandy Fire Station and a fireworks party is being organised. Trevor Evans is seen putting up the bunting and Officer Steele is testing the public address system. Elvis Cridlington is putting out the party food. Whilst Steele is testing the PA system, Norman is seen eating a packet of crisps nearby; the noise from the crisps and the packet ultimately proves to be a distraction for Steele and he asks Norman if he has to do so. Norman walks away. Steele tests the PA system again and it transpires that Elvis hadn’t plugged it in which was why it wasn’t working. Elvis promptly plugs it in and it works. When Sam goes inside the fire station to get more nails for the bunting he finds Norman Price has got to the box of fireworks and has opened the box, more so has picked up a firework. Sam explains that fireworks are very dangerous and Norman is too young to handle them. Whilst Sam inspects the fireworks, Norman blows up the crisp packet like a balloon and pops it behind Sam’s back. Sam is not amused at this.

Later that day, Bella Lasagne calls into Dilys Price’s shop to buy ingredients for a fruit cake she is making, for the fire station party - specifically cherries, raisins and nuts. Fireman Sam calls into the shop for a newspaper and notices that a consignment of smoke alarms has been delivered to the shop, specifically approved ones with the Kitemark. Dilys insists she doesn’t need smoke alarms (spoonerised as ‘smoke signals’) but Sam points out there’s too many plugs in one socket behind the counter and this is dangerous as it can cause fires. Bella also buys a smoke alarm for the café, and Sam offers to install it that afternoon.

Bella is then seen to be making the fruit cake for the fire station party. Sam calls into the café to install the smoke alarm. Whilst Bella puts the cake in the oven, Sarah asks Sam how the smoke alarm works and he explains how it works. Sarah says she hopes the house never catches fire and this prompts Sam to explain the importance of preventing fires from happening - he notices Sarah’s teddy bear, Cuddles, sitting too close to the electric fire (the fire was also unguarded) and James playing with a box of matches. Sam pulls both of them up accordingly, explaining these actions are dangerous. He also tests Bella and the children on what to do in the event of fire - get out, get the fire brigade out and stay out. They do a test run, pretending that Bella’s counter buzzer is the smoke alarm. When out of the café, they say about getting the fire brigade out and staying out. James said he would call 999, but Sam reminds him it was just a practice. Sarah remembers she left Cuddles in the café and tried to go back in to get him but Sam says it is too dangerous to go back into a burning building, even for toys or pets. They go back in for food and drinks. Dilys peers inside. When everyone is tucking in, the smoke alarm goes off and they have to evacuate again (this time Sarah had Cuddles in tow); Dilys got sent spinning from the commotion. When Sam investigates the source of the smoke, it turned out that Bella’s cake had burned.

That evening, the fireworks party gets under way. Norman tries to go beyond the rope on account of not being able to see anything but Station Officer Steele tells him to go back behind the rope. Rosa then is found outside the fire station and runs away when Sam tries to pick her up. Trevor catches her and puts her inside the fire station premises; Sam explains that pets should be kept indoors when fireworks are being let off. He then notices the tin the fireworks have been transferred to was left open and asks Elvis if this was of his doing, to which he inadvertently says yes. Sam says that the lid must be kept on every time a firework is taken out of the box - and then notices Elvis has a firework in his pocket, to which Sam says it is not safe. Steele prompts Sam and Elvis to get the fireworks under way. Sam picks a firework out of the box and closes the box. Whilst looking for the torch to read the instructions with, Elvis offers a light by way of matches. Sam says this is not safe. Steele asks what the delay is. Elvis sets up the firework and Sam lights a taper, which Elvis then goes to ignite the fuse with, at arm’s length. Sam then says to stand well back. To everyone’s dismay the firework doesn’t go off after ignition. Elvis then goes to reignite it but Sam stops him and Steele pulls Elvis up on this. Then the firework started going off and this was met with approval from everyone. Sam then breaks the fourth wall at the end, by telling the viewers, “And remember, fireworks are fun if you let grown-ups look after them. Cheerio now.”

The morals to be learned in Safe with Sam are in chronological order:

* Never play with fireworks. Only adults should be in charge of fireworks.
* Smoke alarms save lives. Make sure they display the Kitemark symbol. The fire service can install smoke alarms for you.
* Never plug too many plugs in one socket, it can overheat and catch fire.
* Never leave toys too close to a fire, they could catch fire - and fires should be guarded.
* Never play with matches.
* When you hear a smoke alarm, get out, get the fire brigade out and stay out.
* Never go back into a burning building for any reason, even for a favourite toy. You could get trapped by the fire.
* Stand well back when watching fireworks.
* When fireworks are being set off, keep pets indoors.
* Keep fireworks in a metal box and keep the lid on at all times.
* Never put fireworks in your pocket.
* Never use a naked flame to read firework instructions, always a torch.
* Light fireworks at arm’s length with a taper and stand well back.
* Never go back to a firework that has been lit. Even if it hasn’t gone off, it could go off in your face.

## Characters

* Fireman Sam
* Elvis Cridlington
* Station Officer Steele
* Sarah and James
* Dilys Price
* Norman Price
* Bella Lasagne
* Trevor Evans
* Rosa

## Locations

* Pontypandy Fire Station
* Bella's Cafe
* Dilys General Store

## Trivia

* Sam breaks the fourth wall at the end.
* This episode had never been released on a BBC Video in the UK, it did however have its own VHS release by a different company. HIT Entertainment then released the episode on DVD in "Ultimate Children's Favourites", then later again on the Snow Business DVD and then lastly on the Treasure Hunt DVD. Poundland also released the episode on the Safe with Sam DVD too.

* If this episode takes place in the same year it was broadcast in Welsh and English (1988), then that would mean the Pontypandy Fire Station was built in 1938.
	+ However, it is not said when this episode takes place. It is just said that this episode takes place 50 years after the Pontypandy Fire Station was built.
* This is the first episode where the models have been given new faces.
* This is the last Series 2 episode to have Series 1 credits.
* This episode also marks the only instance of the following:
	+ The only episode in the original series that features a working smoke alarm.
	+ The only Series 2 episode to feature an appearance from Rosa.
* In all Australian broadcasts and VHS releases of this episode, a caption is added indicating Australia's emergency number (*000*), as this is different from the number used in the UK and mentioned in the episode (*999*). Also in a New Zealand VHS, a different caption is added which says “In New Zealand, ring 111” which is their emergency services number.
* Recording date: January 4, 1988.
* This is the first episode where no one drives Jupiter.

## Goofs

* When Sam tells Trevor he is going inside to fetch some more nails, he has his helmet off, but when he enters the station he is wearing it.
* When Station Officer Steele warns Elvis not to go back to the firework after it’s burned out, he steps away from the microphone, yet his voice still echoes as if it was coming through the loudspeaker.
* In the practice run of the fire evacuation at the café, Sarah leaves Cuddles, her teddy bear, inside and tries to go back in for him, but Sam says not to because it isn’t safe to do so. When they have to evacuate the café for real due to the burnt cake, Sarah takes Cuddles with her. In the event of a fire, it is dangerous for people to take belongings with them when evacuating because if belongings get dropped, they pose a trip hazard and then the person that tripped over could get trapped by the fire.

## Home Video Releases

### UK/IRL/AUS

* Ultimate Children's Favourites
* Snow Business (UK DVD)
* Treasure Hunt (UK DVD)
* Safe With Sam (UK DVD)
* Fire Safety Special (UK VHS)

## Video

Fireman Sam - Safe With Sam (1988)English version
## References

1. ↑ Fireman Sam, Series 1, Safe With Sam - CBeebies - BBC