| Cleveland Central Hosts Health and Safety Fair
By Orlando O. Grant, Site Coordinator
Eddie the Eagle instructs school-age children about what they should do if they find a gun in their neighborhood. |
Firefighters reminded children about the importance of changing batteries in smoke detectors and using the "stop, drop, and roll" technique if caught in a fire. |
One day last October, children went to school and found dogs, an eagle, and a monster truck. It was all part of the Cleveland Central Weed and Seed strategy's Health and Safety Fair at Giddings Elementary School. The purpose of the event was to increase knowledge of safety in the home, at school, and in the community.
First, students of all ages visited various safety vehicles, including a Cleveland Fire Department firetruck, the Cleveland Police Department's Mobile Command Unit, an EMS ambulance, a Cuyahoga County Sheriff armored SWAT truck, and the D.A.R.E. monster truck. At each vehicle, police officers, firefighters, and other public safety officials presented information about how kids can stay safe in their homes and communities. Kids especially enjoyed touring the inside of the ambulance, trying on SWAT gear, and seeing the police and fire dogs.
Inside the school, police officers visited classrooms to talk about safety. McGruff the Crime Dog® came to tell kids how they could "take a bite out of crime," and Eddie the Eagle® taught them what to do if they find a gun. Officer Jeff from the Cleveland Police Department integrated magic into his presentation about valuing diversity, avoiding drugs, befriending the police, and staying on the fast track to success. Lastly, kids were given some ideas for healthy after-school snacks, like peanut butter on celery.
Giddings Principal Octavia Reid opened the assembly portion of the event, and representatives from the mayor's office and the city council addressed the student body. Jim Ballotta, Area Superintendent of Cleveland Municipal Schools, spent the day having his students read to him and collecting their thoughts on health and safety.
Community residents were invited to the fair to learn about safety and ways in which they can improve the quality of life in their neighborhood. They spoke with representatives of local governmental and nonprofit organizations to attain information about services available to them. Residents also received free smoke detectors and other items to make their homes safe. A nurse from the City of Cleveland Department of Health provided blood pressure and blood sugar screenings.
After the fair, students were assigned to document what they had learned. Younger students used their artistic talents to design safety-themed posters and competed to win a class pizza party for the best poster, while children in higher grades wrote essays about their experiences at the event. These items can be viewed online by clicking here.
This event was sponsored by Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc.; Cleveland Central Weed and Seed; Giddings Elementary School; and the Partnership for a Greater Cleveland. Special thanks go to the participants and volunteers who made this event a huge success!
For more information, contact:
Orlando O. Grant
|
