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Health & Fitness

Students Learn Disaster Preparedness from FEMA

MTES and Ridgeway students learn disaster preparedness at FEMA assembly program

Fourth and fifth grade students at Manchester Township and Ridgeway Elementary Schools learned how they can be prepared for a natural disaster, like a hurricane or flood, in an assembly program presented by FEMA for Kids.  FEMA is the Federal Emergency Management Association, which responds to disasters nationwide.  Phyllis Deroian, FEMA External Affairs Officer, said that her organization is in the area finishing up their response to Hurricane Irene and the related flooding, which affected some of our local students.

“When children are affected by disaster, parents can be stressed and may not explain everything to their children,” said Derioan.  “When we’re in the area, we like to bring this program into the schools because if they know the information ahead of time, we can make it a little bit less scary for the children.” 

At MTES, students gathered in the all-purpose room and classes moved between four stations: preparing a disaster ready kit, pet preparedness, first aid, and working on an activities book about making a disaster plan.

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At the ready kit station, some of the supplies students packed for a possible evacuation included non-perishable foods, water, flashlight and batteries, medicine, extra clothes and blankets, and some cash.  Nutmeg, the FEMA therapy dog, helped out at the pet preparedness station, where presenters showed the supplies needed for pets, including food, medicine, leash, cage, and shot records.  At the first aid station, students learned simple ways to help someone in need of assistance including a demonstration on a special mannequin of the Heimlich maneuver for choking victims.  At the activities book station, students all received a disaster preparedness activities book entitled “Ready…Set…Prepare!”  They learned about making a plan for a disaster, including making a communication plan for if they are not with their parents when disaster strikes.  The book also includes advice on dealing with specific disasters like floods, thunderstorms, hurricanes, and winter storms.

Vice Principal, Nikki Mazur, who helped arrange the program, said it was a great lesson for the students that also integrated well into the science and health curriculum for fourth and fifth graders.

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All of the students received Certificates of Readiness upon completing the program.  Visit http://www.ready.gov/kids for an online version of the program and more resources.

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