Students learn safety in Troy
Published: October 8, 2009
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Review Photo/ERIC HRIN Here, at Bradford County Rural Health and Safety Day Wednesday at Alparon Park in Troy, Jennifer Dibble, executive director of the Bradford County YMCA, fits a helmet on Samantha Gentile from Troy Middle School.
Review Photo/ERIC HRIN At Bradford County Rural Health and Safety Day Wednesday at Alparon Park in Troy, Aaron Trybula from St. Agnes School learns about animal safety with this canine.
Bradford County Rural Health and Safety Day
TROY - Bradford County Rural Health and Safety Day has been held for close to 10 years.
And Tom Maloney, with Penn State Cooperative Extension, said it's making a difference.
"I've had professionals say we are saving lives by doing this," he said.
On Wednesday, the event, sponsored by the extension office in cooperation with several other organizations, was held at Alparon Park in Troy. About 330 fifth graders from Troy Middle School, Canton Elementary School, Towanda Middle School, St. Agnes School, Epiphany School, and North Rome Christian School attended.
Moving from station to station, they could learn about animal, bike and skateboard, firearm, lawn mower and power equipment, skin care/sun care exposure, and drug and alcohol safety as well as First Aid. At noon, all the children sat in the grandstand for a fire safety demonstration.
The Bradford County Fireman's Association was on hand with a smoke simulator, and emergency responders helped three victims, played by three of the children, in a simulated home fire.
This year, the program was held in the livestock barn area due to the threat of rain, which didn't materialize. Still, Maloney said it went well, and said the barn area would probably be used from now on for the event.
He noted that Rural Health and Safety Day requires a lot of planning and keeping all the participants informed of everything. "It's a big undertaking when you have this many groups involved," he said.
"It can be a challenge, but we all think it's important we keep our youth as safe and healthy as possible."
Those taking part included Partners in Family and Community Development, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Guthrie, Robert Packer Hospital, Bradford County EMS, Western Alliance, Memorial Hospital and EMS, Bradford County Fireman's Association, Troy Fire Department, Endless Mountains Dog Obedience, Bradford County 911, Troy FFA, and Bradford County Friends of the NRA Youth Hunter Education Challenge. Middendorf Tractor in Troy provided the ATVs for the ATV safety station.
According to one participant, Mary Wenger, trauma resource nurse and injury prevention coordinator at Robert Packer Hospital, the students are at a good age to receive the information.
"They understand (the importance of being safe) and they're open to learning."
Eric Hrin can be reached at (570) 297-5251; e-mail: reviewtroy@thedailyreview.com.
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