4 schools to teach avoidance of harm

Nearly 1-million children are poisoned every year. A pilot program takes aim at that kind of statistic.

By KELLY RYAN

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 12, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG -- Motor vehicle accidents, fire, choking, poisoning, falls, guns, bike and pedestrian accidents, and drowning -- those are the top causes of death for children under 14.

But if they know how to handle those situations, kids can reduce their risk of injury. Beginning this fall, four St. Petersburg schools will teach them what to do.

"Risk Watch," developed by a national fire protection agency, will be offered at Sexton and Sawgrass Lake elementaries and Meadowlawn and Azalea middle schools. The program comes with lesson plans, props and the support of paramedics, police officers, firefighters and doctors, who will teach some of the classes.

Pinellas is one of five school districts in Florida to experiment this year with the Risk Watch curriculum. It is being paid for through a state grant and the St. Petersburg Fire Department.

If statistics show it seems to help kids at the four schools using it this fall, district health specialists and community safety agencies hope it will be expanded to 10 additional schools in 2002-2003.

"It's going to be up to you to increase this awareness," said Todd Livingston, a program coordinator for St. Petersburg Fire-Rescue.

About two dozen teachers gathered at Sexton Elementary on Friday morning to see what the program is all about. After hearing sobering statistics about the number of children killed or hurt in preventable tragedies -- nearly 1-million are injured in poisonings alone -- they learned how to help.

The lessons walk students through eight health hazards and what to do to prevent injury. Through skits, singing, scavenger hunts and role-playing -- students act as newspaper reporters, detectives, promoters, coaches and storytellers -- the students come up with safety plans.

For instance, during the unit on fire, students learn about fire extinguishers, calling 911, smoke alarms and escape plans. Students draw pictures of their homes and plot different ways to get out. In the tub of props, younger children will find small firefighter uniforms they can try on.

During the unit on poisoning, students can study how containers for poisonous cleaning items sometimes look just like food: Pine cleaner resembles apple juice and Comet cleanser resembles parmesan cheese.

The hope is that the lessons won't end in the classroom. Students are supposed to take home what they have learned and teach their parents and siblings.

"You see so many things that are dangerous that parents just don't have a clue," said St. Petersburg police Officer Jane Story, who will teach lessons on gun safety. "Educating kids will help."

So far, educators like what they see. The tubs of props look fun to play with, they said, and they can use the safety lesson to prepare students for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test through reading and writing assignments. When playing detectives, for instance, students can keep investigative journals.

Sexton Elementary principal Pat Davey sees all kinds of ways to reinforce the safety lessons through the school newspaper, television station and newsletter.

"By making them be more aware, it's going to help them and maybe save their life one day," said Kevin Timmons, a health and physical education teacher at Azalea Middle School.

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