Stay Safe

There’s no doubt that parents give their children the same safety advice - look both ways before crossing the street; don’t run with scissors; don’t talk while you’re eating; wear your life jacket; don’t play with matches...but do they know what to do in case an accident does happen? Parents would most likely also agree that sometimes children just listen better to the cautions of other people - like teachers, doctors, and other professionals like the people of Wright County Farm Bureau and the Wright County ISU Extension office, which is precisely why they have been holding a Safety Day for third graders for more than a decade.

Wright County Farm Bureau and Wright County ISU Extension hosted their 11th annual event at Greenwood Park (Wright County Fairgrounds) in Eagle Grove on Thursday, Sept. 13. The roughly 190 students from Eagle Grove, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, and Belmond spent the day learning about farm safety, chemical safety, first aid, weather alerts, water safety, EMS, fire safety, making 9-1-1 calls, and the dangers of electricity. The kids were split into nine different sections according to their class and school. From there, they traveled throughout the day to each of the stations, spending approximately 20 minutes learning, listening, and doing safety experiments.

The Clarion Fire Department captured the kids’ attention right away as they demonstrated the protective gear they have to wear on a fire call by dressing up students or teachers in each class throughout the day. It took them several minutes to get their model into the gear, but when firemen put it on for an emergency, they can do it in about 60 seconds. Presenters Travis Gilliland and Tristan Mewes also talked about how to stay low below the smoke in a fire, and what to do in case the building you’re in catches on fire - like never going back to save a pet or hiding from firefighters. The kids also found it interesting to talk about how a fire spreads, including the fact that oxygen feeds a fire. The kids also found it interesting to find out that the universal code for firemen to get out of a burning building is blasting the fire truck horn three times.

For the full story, see this week's Eagle Grove Eagle. Subscribe by calling 1-800-558-1244 ext 122 or email Deb at circulation@midamericapub.com or by clicking here.