Safety City educates kindergarten students
COSHOCTON – Another generation of soon to be kindergarten students learned a variety of safety lessons thanks to Red Cross Safety City.
“I went as a kid and it was helpful,” said Scott Moses, one of the program’s teen/tween volunteers. “I like being in the classroom with the kids and helping them learn and understand.”
Safety City was held Aug. 3-7, at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds and taught attendees about: Stranger danger and playground safety, pedestrian and traffic safety, police and gun safety, first aid and dog safety, fire prevention and 911, home and poison safety, bicycle safety, school bus safety, train safety, and seat belt safety.
“We want them to know that the firefighters and deputies are their friends and help get them set for school,” said Red Cross Volunteer Sher Alloway. “They get homework and we take them on a school bus and up to Coshocton Elementary School to learn about playground safety and stranger danger.”
They also were educated about Internet safety.
“Strangers aren’t just someone who walks up to you anymore,” Alloway said. “Children have access to computers and we have to keep up on what is going on in the world.”
On fire safety day the students got to see what firefighters look like dressed up in their gear when Brent Endsley helped them out of the safety house. The firefighters wanted the children not to be scared of them if they saw them at a fire and also know what to do in case of a fire. After learning lessons like checking doors for heat with the back of their hands and crawling to windows to get out, the students got to have fun knocking cones down with a fire hose.
When asked what he’d learned at Safety City, Eric Hores quickly repeated what to do if he ever found a gun.
“Stop, don’t touch, run away and tell a grownup,” he said.
Forty-two children participated in Safety City and the youth volunteers who helped were greatly appreciated by Alloway.
“The children relate to them and they help us do everything from teaching to helping keep the kids gathered up,” she said. “We couldn’t do it without them.”
Both Tara Cooper and Anna Egbert were glad they decided to volunteer their time.
“I did Safety City as a kid and remember learning about traffic safety,” Cooper said. “I like being here and helping these kids also learn to be safe.”
Egbert found out about Safety City from her involvement with Coshocton County Youth Leadership.
“It’s fun to see how excited the kids are and watching them learn things they don’t know,” she said. “Volunteering here is a way to give back to the community and help the younger ones learn to be safe.”
Children who attended Safety City received a Red Cross backpack and other items and the program wrapped up with a graduation ceremony.
The Red Cross is a United Way of Coshocton County Community Partner Agency and appreciates funding from them that helps make programs like Safety City possible.
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
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