Safety Week at Washington to Protect Kids from Harm
Washington Primary School faculty and staff place a noticeable premium on keeping children safe, so holding a "safety week" fits in perfectly with the school's core philosophy. The initiative brought vehicles and personnel from the Huntington Community First Aid Squad and Huntington Fire Department to the school for presentations created specifically for young people.
"Our goal is to do whatever we can to keep the students out of harm's way," said Karen Martin, Washington's nurse and herself a member of the First Aid Squad. "By teaching kids some realistic ways to avoid potential injuries, including simple things like wearing a bicycle helmet and respecting the power of electricity, then perhaps we can help avert a serious situation."
The youngsters learned all about what rescue workers do, the equipment carried in an ambulance and what it's used for and they even had an opportunity to go inside and look over the gear up close. "All of them were excited," Mrs. Martin said. "It was a new experience for them all."
Washington School has about 465 students ranging from kindergarten through fourth grade this year. "We want to keep our students safe at school and at home," Principal Marsha Neville said. "We are committed to doing all we can, from providing the information they need to make good decisions to educating students about what to do in an emergency situation."
The Huntington Fire Department provided lessons in fire prevention and safety and what to do should a crisis occur. Advanced planning is essential, students were told, and knowing how to get out of a house is a must. The youngsters learned about the devastating effect of fire, how smoke itself can kill and how to avoid a terrible fate by thinking quickly and acting decisively.
"Hopefully, these lessons will make a real difference," Mrs. Neville said