Illinois Safety Camp to Help Kids Avoid Injuries

For children 14 and younger, the No. 1 health risk isn't kidnapping. It isn't drugs or disease.

It's injuries.

In fact, one in four children are injured seriously enough to require medical attention, according to Geneva Police Detective Michelle Frangella.

Through education, children can learn safe behaviors and prevent injuries, she said.

For that reason, the Geneva police and fire departments are again running Risk Watch Safety Camp, a comprehensive - and fun - injury-prevention curriculum specifically for children entering first grade and living within Geneva School District 304.

The first sessions begin Monday. Session 1 runs from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. Session 2 is from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Session 3 is from 9 to 11 a.m. July 16 to 20. All sessions are held at the Geneva Fire Department's headquarters station at East Side Drive and Dodson Street. The fire station is one block north of East State Street.

Each session accommodates 20 children and children can still register for all three sessions.

Kids will apply critical-thinking skills to analyze situations and learn how to spot and avoid potential dangers. Thought- provoking and fun activities are designed to promote safe decision- making.

"It's very hands-on, very interactive," said Frangella. "It's kind of like a Safety Town camp."

Topics include bike and pedestrian safety, with kids riding always-popular Big Wheel trikes on a set course while learning about traffic safety, using real traffic signs. Firefighters will cover fire and burn prevention. There will be lessons on electrical safety, motor vehicle safety, water safety and other subjects to help children learn to promote their own personal safety and well- being, as well as that of their friends, family and community.

The camp offers a real-world perspective, Frangella said. For example, in discussing motor vehicle safety, kids will board a full-sized school bus, learning about emergency exits, the rules for riding buses, even how to exit in an emergency. (They'll be jumping off the back of the bus, an activity kids love, Frangella said.) Kids will see a squad car demonstration and get a tour of the fire station. They'll visit a playground, so they can do more than listen to someone talk about not getting hurt on the slide. Instead, they'll use the slide, the swings and other playground equipment, up close and personal, and learn to be safe there.

For the future, Frangella hopes for a real Safety Town, with actual kid-sized buildings and safety courses. For now, visiting real-world scenarios does the trick.

Frangella has run the camps for the last several years, each year updating and tweaking the curriculum. This year, for example, the police department added an afternoon session in response to parents' requests.

Frangella also has added segments on people smarts and animal safety. "We'll go over how to approach a dog, and what you should do if you see a lost dog," Frangella said. And yes, a real dog will be on hand for kids to pet and fuss over.

The personal safety component is also new this year and was added after parents requested inclusion of such information, she said. Kids will see pictures of people, for example and be asked, is this person "nice?" How about that one? "We'll talk about 'red flags,' such as what 'nice' people won't do," Frangella said.

It all adds up to common sense for kids, learning about the world around them and learning how to make better decisions and avoid injuries.

And it's all wrapped up in fun.

bbales10@ameritech.net

How to sign up

Want your son or daughter to participate in Risk Watch Safety Camp? There are still openings in all three sessions, though the third session - July 16 to 20 - has only a handful of openings.