43
Canfield kindergartners learn safety lessons
Photo
The kindergarteners excitedly boarded a Canfield Local Schools bus to take a trip to their new school during the Canfield PTO Kindergarten Safety Day.
Photo
Firefighter and paramedic Troy Kolar of the Canfield Fire Department displayed and described the firefighter’s gear and equipment they use during a fire at the Canfield PTO Kindergarten Safety Day.
Photo
Officer Bill DiFrangia of the Canfield Police department gave the children a chance to check out his police cruiser at the Canfield PTO Kindergarten Safety Day Saturday.
Photo
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Firefighter and E.M.T. Mike Sofranko (right) of the Canfield Fire Department explained and demonstrated the technique of stop, drop and roll during the Canfield PTO Kindergarten Safety Day.
By ABBY SLANKER
Children entering kindergarten in the Canfield Local School District had the opportunity to attend the Canfield PTO Kindergarten Safety Day at St. Michael’s Church Saturday.
The program was designed to teach the children important safety guidelines and included presentations from the Canfield Police Department, Canfield Fire Department, Akron Children’s Hospital and the Canfield Fire Women’s Auxiliary. A highlight of the program was an opportunity for the children to take their first bus ride to their respective elementary school.
According to Annette DePalmo, coordinator of the event, 71 children attended. Members of the Kindergarten Safety Day committee included DePalmo and Holly Prout of C.H. Campbell Elementary PTO and Julie Dudash and Micky Rosko of Hilltop Elementary PTO.
The children were given name tags that were color coded and were instructed to follow the corresponding color-coded schedule in the Safety Day informational handout they received at the registration table.
The children were scheduled to visit four stations, after which they were given a snack and then lined up to take their first bus ride.
At the Canfield Police Department station, Officer Bill DiFrangia talked to the children about bike safety, recognizing a police officer and pedestrian safety. He reinforced his message by having the children practice crossing the street by looking both ways and crossing in the crosswalk.
Toward the end of his presentation, DiFrangia allowed the children to check out the inside of his police cruiser and let them turn on the lights and sirens. He also handed out police badge stickers.
At the Canfield Fire Department station, firefighter and paramedic Troy Kolar displayed and described the firefighter’s gear and equipment they use during a fire and gave the children tips on what to do if there is ever a fire at their home.
Firefighter and E.M.T. Mike Sofranko explained and demonstrated the technique of stop, drop and roll and gave the children an opportunity to try the technique themselves. The children also checked out all aspects of the fire truck and were given plastic fire helmets and stickers.
Linda Beilstein of Akron Children’s Hospital talked to the children about staying healthy in kindergarten. She demonstrated the correct technique for hand washing, encouraging the children to use soap and water and wash for at least 20-30 seconds while singing “Happy Birthday” to themselves. She also explained the importance of hand washing and the many instances which children need to wash their hands.
Beilstein did a demonstration during which she invited the children to look at her hands under a high-powered black light to see all the germs on her hands. She then washed her hands and invited them back up to look at her hands again under the black light to see how her hand washing technique had gotten rid of the germs.
Shari Shaffer and Amy Wittman, members of the Canfield Fire Women’s Auxiliary, spoke to the children about stranger and pet danger.
They gave the children tips on what to do if someone tried to grab them and how to attract attention to the situation. They also advised the children to find a police officer if they ever find themselves in trouble.
Shaffer and Wittman also informed the children to never approach or play with a strange animal they may encounter.
The children were presented with a personalized safety certificate and a goody bag containing a Canfield Cardinals water bottle, a book titled “Don’t Talk to Strangers,“ both purchased by the PTO, and an activity book donated by Jason Reckard of State Farm Insurance.
Finally, at the end of the event, children took a bus ride to either Hilltop Elementary School or C.H. Campbell Elementary School. After the children were seated, the rules of the bus and expectations of behavior on the bus were explained by the bus driver.