NORTH BRUNSWICK – Eager second graders wanted to share what they learned about wheeled sports safety.
They said: Always wear a helmet, wrist guards, elbow pads and knee pads. Look straight ahead. Keep your hands on the handlebars. Stay in the right lane. Don’t go out in the fog, rain or dark, or at least use reflectors when doing so. Make sure tires are inflated. Make sure you are with someone who is older.
Zehra Macktoom and Katelyn Freebern, members of the American Red Cross Club at North Brunswick Township High School, offered the lesson to Dianne Krisza’s class at Judd Elementary School on April 11 as part of the NBTHS-Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health Safety Ambassador Program.
Ten high school students chosen for the program had attended a one-day training seminar at the New Brunswick hospital to learn how to teach elementary school students about helmet safety, fall prevention, safety in and around cars, and pedestrian safety.
They then visit each of the four North Brunswick elementary schools four times a year to teach the children basic safety needs, according to advisor Marcelino Garcia.
“It’s really all on the students to present,” Garcia said, noting the information comes from RWJB but the students must create their own presentations using slides, games, activities, videos, etc.
“At the end of the presentation we do a quiz. You can tell they are learning,” lead coordinator Shreni Sheth said. “They’re excited. These safety ambassadors are their role models and they want to follow their role models.”
“It’s really fun. The kids love it and the ambassadors love it,” fellow lead coordinator Siya Kakumanu said.
The 100 members of the American Red Cross Club take part in other initiatives as well. For example, students raised $1,000 to buy a rower for the North Brunswick Police Department’s gym. They also set up booths at Heritage Day and Care to Walk.
Contact Jennifer Amato at [email protected].