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Students Learn To Play It Safe

Photo by Julie Busch/staff

Shaw Elementary student Jordan Jones, 6, participates in a fire safety excercise during St. Joseph's Children's Hospital 11th annual safety workshop at the St. Pete Times Forum Thursday

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By MICHELE SAGER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2007

Updated: 09/24/2007 08:45 pm

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CHANNEL DISTRICT - With hockey pucks flying straight for her face, first-grader Markesia Thompson was glad to be wearing a helmet.

The Shaw Elementary student participated in a demonstration that showed the importance of wearing safety equipment when playing sports. It was part of a safety expo put on by St. Joseph's Children's Hospital to kick off its annual Kids Are Heroes campaign.

Every year, the hospital takes nominations from the community for youth ages 5 to 18 who have performed heroic and inspiring deeds in the past year.

'It could be a range of actions, from a child who called 911 and saved someone's life or someone who donated hair to Locks of Love,' said Will Darnall, event spokesman.

To kick off the campaign, the hospital invites a school that serves low-income students to learn about safety.

'We started this because we see so many children come into our trauma center because of burns, cuts, dog bites, etc.,' Darnall said. 'So we decided to be proactive and teach the students about different types of safety.'

Members of the hospital's Advocacy Center gave students tips on fire, pedestrian and water safety, along with the importance of using seat belts, good nutrition and physical activity.

One activity had students practicing the stop-drop-and-roll technique if their clothes catch fire. They also had to crawl below a gray blanket that simulated smoke in a building.

'You got to get down real low because smoke is bad,' said first-grader Jordan Jones.

Shaw teacher Patrice Creal said events such as this one are important for her students.

'Some of these students don't get a chance to visit other places, so they have to rely on these types of school field trips,' she said. 'It's great because they are learning about safety in a hands-on way.'

Nomination forms are available at some area McDonald's restaurants, at www.stjosephs childrens.com or by calling (813) 870-KIDS (5437).

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

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