INNISFAIL – Making safety a habit was a key message for students during a recent mock emergency.
Students in grades 4, 5, 6 and 7 at Innisfail's St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School learned about safety on the road, at home and at school during a mock incident on the school grounds on May 6.
The event was held during North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH), to highlight and promote safety at home, at school and in the workplace.
“St. Marguerite's school is hosting the mock incident for safety week,” said Lisa Vogt, health and safety coordinator for Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools. “The key message to students is about protecting themselves from everyday hazards. Anything they are exposed to (and any activity they are involved in), whether they are at home, in the playground or at school.”
Vogt said the emergency scenario has been presented in Central Alberta in past years, including in Sylvan Lake and Blackfalds, but it was the first time in Innisfail.
“We like to do (the mock emergency) in different areas and that’s why Innisfail was selected,” she said. “We like to include as many kids as we can to get the safety message out, to make good, safe road choices. We also like to educate them in first aid and first aid techniques and in wearing personal protective equipment, as it relates to their activities,” she added.
The mock emergency was a collaborative sponsored event involving the Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA), Parkland Regional Safety Committee, HSE Integrated, Stuart Olsen Inc., Innisfail RCMP, Innisfail Fire Department, and the Central Alberta Chapter of Canadian Society of Safety Engineering.
Innisfail fire Chief Gary Leith said in addition to the NAOSH initiative, the week from May 5 to 12 is also national Emergency Preparedness Week.
“The main message to the children here is about being prepared,” said Leith, who noted situations at home, on the road and at school. “The key (message) there (in the mock incident) is the safety equipment that they use when they’re on the bikes and also the use of headphones which isolates them from all the things that are happening around them.
“The community has to work together and that includes all the different agencies, fire, police, EMS, and the school board,” he added. “All of us work together to create a safer community or in the event of a disaster or an emergency, that we all respond more efficiently.”
Grade 5 student Kruz Kletzel, 11, portrayed the distracted student in the mock incident. He said the event helped students learn about the importance of safety in everyday situations.
“(We learned) to be safe and careful and to wear proper gear when you’re going to do something,” said Kletzel.
For more information on NAOSH week, visit www.naosh.org
