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Campaign Message A Safe Bet

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By MICHELE SAGER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 13, 2007

Updated: 10/11/2007 07:12 pm

NORTH TAMPA - The dangers were everywhere: medicine bottles left on a counter, a hot pot on the stove and toys by the stairs.

It was up to Shaw Elementary students to spot the common household dangers so they could learn how to stay safe in the home.

The Great Safety Adventure campaign visited Shaw this week to spread its message about household safety. The event, sponsored by the Home Safety Council, includes a 1,000-square-foot animated home through which students can walk to spot the dangers.

In the kitchen, the students spotted the poisonous chemicals left in an open cabinet. In the bathroom, they found a blow dryer plugged in near a bathtub. And in the bedroom, students learned what to do when they hear a smoke alarm.

'I put the back of my hand on the door to make sure it wasn't hot,' said second-grader Aaron Webb. 'And when I saw smoke, I crawled to safety.'

By having students crawl through a smoky hallway, they are learning lessons that will stick with them, said Joe Straughan, tour manager.

'We have them repeat little phrases and make it interactive because we want them to remember these safety tips,' he said.

The Home Safety Council holds school tours because home-related injuries result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits each year.

The tour is expected to visit more area elementary schools next week. Families can also visit the safety house for free at local Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse locations. For interactive home safety tips, visit www.coderedrover .org.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: The Great Safety Adventure
WHEN: From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today

WHERE: Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, 12901 N. Dale Mabry Highway
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 20

WHERE: Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, 6201 Commerce Palms Drive

HOW MUCH: Free

INFORMATION: Visit www.homesafety council.org/great _safety_adventure.

Reporter Michele Sager can be reached at (813) 865-4843 or msager@tampatrib.com.

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