Families from all over Santa Barbara County are invited to learn about natural disasters and disaster preparedness on May 22, Safe Kids Day.
Presented by the American Red Cross, Santa Barbara County Chapter, the event will feature fun activities that teach children about the science behind natural disasters, as well as how to prepare for and stay safe during and after a disaster. The instruction comes from the Red Cross’ curriculum for kids, “Masters of Disaster.”
Participants will rotate through a variety of scheduled interactive presentations on topics such as fire, earthquake, flood, how to build a disaster supply kit, water safety, calling 911, and general First Aid. They will also go on tours of a mock emergency shelter and the Red Cross emergency response vehicle. Lastly, each child who completes the full session will receive a Red Cross “Masters of Disaster” certification card and a goody bag.
“Children will pass the information along to their families and in turn, our entire county will be safer and more prepared in the event of a disaster,” Louise Kolbert, the chapter’s director of emergency services, said in a press release.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the chapter’s Santa Barbara office, located at 2707 State St.
Space is limited and registration is required for the interactive presentations. To register, visit sbredcross.org or call Karyn Boenker at 687-1331, Ext. 123. The deadline to register is May 17.
This article appears in May 13-20, 2010.