Kindergarteners learn safety tips at Safety City

| August 5, 2016
Kindergarteners at Safety City participate in EMS day on Friday, Aug. 5. They were able to tour the truck and learn about some of the equipment first responders use in an emergency situation. Beth Scott | Beacon

Kindergarteners at Safety City participate in EMS day on Friday, Aug. 5. They were able to tour the truck and learn about some of the equipment first responders use in an emergency situation. Beth Scott | Beacon

COSHOCTON – Coshocton County Red Cross had its annual Safety City event at the fairgrounds Aug. 1 – 9 where more than 40 kindergarteners learned gun safety, fire safety, school bus safety, and many other safety techniques.

The kids were split between two sessions, a morning and an evening session. Half of the students participated in the activity while the other half learned in a classroom setting, taught by Angie Moses, state certified safety instructor.

“Angie is just invaluable to us,” said Sher Alloway of Coshocton County Red Cross.

Parents were invited to stay for gun safety on Monday taught by a Coshocton County Deputy. On Tuesday, the kids learned about pedestrian safety and were able to navigate the mock roadway that was set up in the youth building at the fairgrounds. On Wednesday, the kids got a special treat as they learned about bus safety on the way to the Coshocton Elementary School playground, where they then learned about stranger danger.

“We taught them that a stranger isn’t always the scary, scruffy man,” said Alloway. “A stranger can be a woman, a boy or girl teen, or a very well-dressed man. We had ‘strangers’ at the playground that tried to lure them away with a dog, candy, and ice cream, typical stuff like that.”

Thursday, the kids learned all about fire safety where they got to walk through the fire safety trailer and hear the sirens.

“We want to let them see a fireman dressed in their full garb,” said Alloway. “Can you imagine if you were a kid what it would look like for a fireman to come in your house dressed like that? It would be scary for them.”

Friday was EMS day and the kids got to see the lights on the ambulance, hear the sirens, and even were able to check their heart rate on the heart monitor. They learned when to call 911 and the emergency responders talked about the use for IVs.

“We want to teach this because we want the children to know, if someone who is a first responder of any kind comes to their house, it’s okay,” said Alloway. “They’re there to help you.”

This year, Safety City extended its program to two more days where they talked about farm safety and water safety. They also had a graduation on Tuesday, Aug. 9 with diplomas, flags, and refreshments.

Everyone who participates in Safety City is a volunteer.

“It’s a huge week for these kids,” said Alloway. “It takes two weeks to set all this up (the mock roadway) but it’s all worth it.”

Safety City is a United Way event.

“Lyn (Mizer) of United Way is so good to us,” said Alloway. “United Way does so much for us.”

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About the Author ()

I have been employed at the Coshocton County Beacon since September 2009 as a news reporter and assistant graphic artist. I am a 2004 graduate of Newcomerstown High School and a 2008 graduate of Capital University with a bachelor’s degree in Professional Writing. I am married to John Scott and live in Newcomerstown. We have two beautiful daughters, Amelia Grace Scott and Leanna Rose Scott.

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