Stoddard County Ambulance District is about to kick off its annual Life Safety Week.
Classes will be held next week for students in kindergarten through sixth grade to teach everything from self defense to water safety and more.
Youth in kindergarten through second attend in the morning, while older students, grade third through sixth, attend in the afternoon.
What started more than a decade ago as a short class for a vacation Bible school group at a local church grew into an annual event that parents are quick to claim spots in, explained Jamie Holcomb, captain of communications.
“It got so big, we do it as a separate class,” explained Holcomb.
About 50 students will attend next week’s classes, which are full, but the ambulance district hosts this event annually in July.
Registration is always released in April, said Holcomb, and fills up quickly. Parents will be waiting at the door at 7 a.m. the day it opens, she said.
“It really is a fun class. The kids have a blast,” Holcomb said.
Each day has a difference focus, kicking off with ambulances on Monday. Other topics include what to do if lost in the woods, tornado safety, fire safety and water safety.
Children are given badges like the ambulance district staff wear, as well as ambulance district T-shirts.
Staff look forward to this week as much as the children and parents, shared Holcomb.
“This is a cup filler,” she said of the opportunity to work with the children on important safety skills in a fun, hands-on environment.