*This week is Emergency Preparedness Week. All week long we will be sharing stories and tips about how you and your family can prepare for any potential disasters where you live *
Photo credit: Upper Canada District School Board
It’s never too early to learn about emergency preparedness. Students at Vanier Public School in Brockville, ON recently devoted a whole day to learning a thing or two about how to be Red Cross Ready.
After an assembly in which students listened to Red Cross staff speak about relief efforts in Japan, Grade 5-8 students were challenged to build a shelter with cardboard and other supplies donated by 3M. The students remained in their shelters in the school gym for the day with only books and games for entertainment, non-perishable food items for snacks, water to drink, and rice to eat for lunch. All of this was so the kids could experience what it would be like living in the aftermath of a disaster. All 360 students at the school took part in emergency preparedness workshops with the Red Cross during the day.
The students also raised over $2,000 for the Canadian Red Cross Japan Earthquake appeal by collecting donations from family and friends, the school’s sustainability club, and proceeds from a school dance for the Grade 5-8 students to celebrate “surviving” the imaginary emergency.
Great work!