By Jordan Studer

With school just around the corner, incoming Kindergarteners are learning many important lessons about safety at the third annual Galion Safety Town this week. Monday, July 24 was the first day of Galion Safety Town, which was held at Galion Primary School, and will continue through Thursday, July 27.

According to Chief Brian Saterfield, forty-eight children registered for Safety Town, and forty-one have been in attendance the first two days. The schedule was organized and planned so that attendees would learn new safety each day.

On Monday, children learned that police officers are there to keep everyone safe and meeting them isn’t scary. A game called “Red Light, Green Light” was also played to teach children about traffic signals. They were also taught the importance of reading signs and using the crosswalks.

After learning many basics of traffic safety on Monday, attendees were able to apply their knowledge during Tuesday’s application sessions. A small model “village” was set up in the parking lot of the Primary School. They got a chance to ride tricycles on the painted “road” throughout the “village”. Crosswalks were also painted throughout the “village” where children were able to practice safely looking both ways and crossing the street.

The health department also made an appearance to teach the kids about other safety issues such as putting on a seat belt correctly. They also taught them personal hygiene, like how to properly wash their hands and brush their teeth.

The fire department is set to come for Wednesday to teach the children the equipment and fire safety. They will even get a chance to use the water hose. Attendees who will be going to Kindergarten at Galion will also get a chance to be introduced to their Kindergarten classes to make the first day of school transition easier. Chief Saterfield was very excited to be able to help the children feel comfortable with their upcoming big day.

“They will get to see where they are going to be. They’ll play in the playground a little bit out there so they’ll become familiar with the surroundings,” Saterfield said, “That’s the great thing here, not only are we able to do Safety Town and teach them a lot of good safety habits, but we’re getting them into the environment where they are going to be in about three weeks.”

The last day children will be taught bicycle safety and will get another chance to practice road safety in the “village.” They will also receive a lesson on railroad safety from CSX Railroads very own Kevin Taylor.

When speaking to one of the Safety Town helpers, Laura Rigdon, she said that she has seen that having Safety Town in the school environment has helped the kids gain confidence for their adjustment in their big adjustment to Kindergarten.

Ridgon helped with Safety Town as a teenager, so now as an adult, she explained how comfortable it was for her to be helping again. Through all of her years of working with the children, she feels that Safety Town has helped many kids learn some truly important life lessons.

“I think if they haven’t had any previous preschool, or even if they have had, they learn some safety tips because next year is a big year…Kindergarten is all day and a whole new world. And any extra safety you can get into them is huge at this point,” Rigdon explained.

Upon finishing all of their safety lessons on Thursday, the Safety Town graduation ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. in the cafeteria.