LAURINBURG – Nearly 40 children between the ages of three and five graduated from an updated version the Safety Town program recently.
The program is a joint effort of Scotland County Cooperative Extension and the Scotland County United Way. Safety Town has been offered in the county for many years, but this is the third year the two organizations have teamed up to present the program.
Safety Town is a child-sized city made up of facades representing houses and businesses where children can practice safety tips they have learned as they navigate through the make-believe streets.
Every day children practiced the safe way to cross a street and how to recognize safety and road signs. Little ones rode big wheels, tricycles and bicycles through the town to practice their skills. The children were careful to stop at railroad crossings and stop signs.
The Scotland County United Way donated new town with technology, bikes, helmets, buildings and street signs.
The program is a one-week, 20-hour course which teaches basic safety lessons to little ones from ages three to eight-years-old.
Safety Town mirrors the 4-H motto − “learn by doing” motto, by offering activities that teach through play and other hands-on tasks designed to prevent injuries with lessons on general safety.
“For children preparing to enter head start or kindergarten, Safety Town is a great program to introduce them to many of the concepts of school including sitting quietly in a group, structured reading, raising their hands, getting in a straight line, writing, learning numbers and teamwork,” said Angela D. Galloway, 4-H youth development extension agent and coordinator of safety town.
During the week, numerous Scotland County departments, agencies and volunteers donated their time and expertise to Safety Town.
The Scotland County Humane Society, along and two of their mascots, educated the children on animal safety including how to approach an animal, especially one that is unfamiliar.
Walmart’s Operation Lifesaver program taught the children the importance of train safety with tips like don’t play on or near train tracks.
Laurinburg Police Department shared traffic safety tips and discussed stranger danger and gun safety.
Laurinburg Fire Department brought its fire house, and taught the littles ones how to stop, drop, and roll and other safe procedures in a fire.
Coach Taylor Cooper, swim coach of St. Andrews University visited to discuss water safety.
Scotland County school bus driver, Zach McNeill used a school bus to teach students about safety when riding and getting on and off the bus.
The little ones were given the opportunity to practice the lesson by taking a bus ride around town.
Students made emergency bracelets with their phone numbers in case of an emergency or if they get lost and ouch pouches − a first aid kit wrapped in fabric with characters from Paw Patrol.
This years’ Safety Town graduates are: Aubreii Bostic, Zoё Broadbelt, Maziney Brown, Bryson Bullard, Aubree Chavis, Shi Lee Cummings, Madison DeBerry, Vedah Rose Dial, Parker Foland, Addison Foshay, Amir Gaymon, Kaelyn Giddens, Honesty Graham, Nigel Hardy, Anna Hoover, Jalyn Jones, Lily Jones, Jamari Leggett, Abigail Locklear, Avery Locklear, Madelyn Locklear, Iana Martin, Jaleah Matthews, Jarrell McBryde, Mackenzie McBryde, Ny’Zeir McEachin, Baelynn McKenzie, Bentley McKenzie, Kamren Monroe, Camden Moody, Tre’Mayne Murphy, Sincere Ogletree, Andrea Ratliffe, Olivia Revels, De’Andrea Robinson, Chelsey Rushing, Timothy Rushing, Collin Russ and Jyquez Sams.
The program would like to thanks its sponsors, volunteers and donors without whom its work could not continue.
For information on youth programs or to join Scotland County 4-H, reach Angela D. Galloway at [email protected] or call 910-277-2422.
Visit the Scotland County Cooperative Extension website for information on upcoming events: Scotland.ces.ncsu.edu/events.