Safety day offers up a safer way to think in every day life

Grade 5 students from across the area have picked up a few tips on how to live their day-to-day a little bit safer. The students, from Altona's Ecole West Park, Plum Coulee, Gretna, Rosenfeld and Border Valley schools, gathered at Altona's Millenium Exhibition Centre on Friday for the return of the Progressive Agriculture Foundation Safety Day.

"We've got demonstrations and presentations on everything from lawn safety/yard safety to why accessibility is important. We've got animal safety from the (Pembina Valley) Humane Society. We have firearm safety, drug and internet safety presented by local law enforcement. We have Enbridge here, Manitoba Hydro. Everyone is presenting a safer way to think and do things in life," explained Brendan Funk, a constable with the Altona Police Service and coordinator of Friday's event. 

The goal of the day, noted Funk, is for the kids to take in the various information and think about how they can live safer. The hope, he noted, is for the kids to take this information and share it with their friends and families as well. 

"Because I did present in past years, I would have a couple of people stop me on the street in summer and say, 'I remember what you were presenting at safety day. I remember this from your presentation'. It really goes to show that not only do the kids want to be here, but they absorb a lot of information, and they remember it. It's fantastic to see."

One of the presenters on Friday was Tara Conzersky, public safety specialist with Manitoba Hydro. She highlighted the dangers associated with electricity and natural gas. 

"We are here today to play a game with them and try and educate them on the safe uses of both," she explained. 

The game was called The Shocking Connection. 

"We find it's a lot easier for kids to learn through play and to learn through being able to go back and forth, so it's there to help the kids learn more about electricity and natural gas. It's just a fun way to learn."

Written with files from Zack Driedger