"FEMA for Kids" Program Debuts in California Schools

Elementary school students in Southern California are becoming “Disaster Action Kids” by participating in a new disaster preparedness program developed by FEMA’s wildfire recovery staff.  The message of the “FEMA for Kids” program is “Be aware—prepare.”

During the school-based program, students visit “learning stations” with various activities.  In one recent program in Los Angeles:

• The American Red Cross taught students how to deal with scrapes and minor cuts, administer first aid and apply warm and cold compresses.
• Local firefighters showed how protective gear helps keep them safe while fighting fires and taught “stop, drop and roll,” as students practiced what to do if clothing catches on fire.
• A pet awareness trainer demonstrated how to care for animals during stressful times. The students even learned how to transport a pet snake during an emergency—in a pillow case.
• Kids explored ready.gov at a computer station to learn how to make an emergency plan and what to pack in an emergency kit.
• Last, kids drew pictures to reinforce what they learned during the exercises. 

All students got “FEMA-Certified Disaster Action Kid” certificates.  You can become a Disaster Action Kid and get a certificate by completing the activities on the  Disaster Action Kid webpage. 

The students’ enthusiasm for the “FEMA for Kids” program was summed up in one student’s thank you note—“You guys rock.”  FEMA plans to provide DVDs of the program to schools throughout California.