Injury Prevention and Safety
Kindergarten - Grade 3
Overview
Prevention skills established in kindergarten provide a foundation for safety practices a child can incorporate into time spent at school, home, and in the community. Pedestrian and bike safety are important skills introduced in kindergarten to grade three that are ideally reinforced throughout the entire school year as well as in higher grade levels. The CA Health Education Content Standards include the important topic of firearm and weapon safety. Students learn about the dangers of weapons and the importance of telling a trusted adult if they see or hear about someone having a weapon. While discussing the danger of stranger interaction is important for young children, it is equally important to discuss their safety with anyone, including people that may be identified as trusted adults or family.
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Information and Resources
California Department of Public Health Ped Safe Program
PedSafe aims to create environments where these activities can happen safely by implementing a multi-faceted approach of education, media outreach and messaging, technical assistance, and training and facilitation.
National Center for Safe Routes to School
The Safe Routes Partnership is a national nonprofit organization working to advance safe walking and rolling to and from schools and in everyday life.
Earthquake Safety - Great Shakeout
This K-12 resource provides drill planning guidance, educational resources for teaching earthquake science and safety, and preparedness and safety resources for assessing and improving school earthquake safety.
American Red Cross: Disaster Preparedness Plan
How to Make a Family Plan: Create and practice an emergency plan so your family will know what to do in a crisis.
Smokey Bear - Wildfire Prevention
Join Smokey Bear and learn how to prevent forest fires! Information and Resources on wildfire prevention from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Firearms Safety Information - Project ChildSafe
Project ChildSafe is committed to providing educators and students the resources they need to spread the message of firearms safety.
Curriculum and Lessons
Walking Safely Near Traffic K-1 Lesson - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The objective of this introductory lesson is to teach students the basic concepts of sharing spaces with cars and other motorized traffic.
National Fire Protection Association Lesson Plans
The National Fire Protection Association offers a variety of lessons on fire safety. They include multiple 10 minute, 30 minute, or 60 minute lessons.
Color Me Safe - CDC coloring book (English/Spanish)
This book follows the Safe Family as they take simple steps to prevent injuries, such as installing smoke alarms and using child safety seats.
Fire Prevention and Safety Elementary Resources - Smokey Bear
Share Smokey Bear’s Five Rules for Wildfire Prevention! It’s easy – simply integrate this exciting, hands-on program into your existing curriculum.
McGruff® Talks to Students About Gun Safety
Let McGruff the Crime Dog® help you add gun safety to your health and wellness curriculum with two entertaining videos that teach students what to do if they should find a gun at home or see a student with a gun at school.
Everything You Need to Teach Digital Citizenship and Well-Being - Common Sense Media
Help students take ownership of their digital lives. All students need digital citizenship skills to participate fully in their communities and make smart choices online and in life.
Sandy Hook Promise: Start With Hello and Say Something Programs
Sandy Hook Promise’s Know the Signs programs effectively teach youth and adults how to prevent school violence, shootings, and other harmful acts.
Book List
Kindergarten - Grade 3
The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers
by Stan Berenstain (1985)
Emergency!
by Margaret Mayo (2015)
I Can Be Safe
by Pat Thomas (2012)
It's Time to Call 9-1-1
by Ron Berry (2013)
Impatient Pamela Calls 9-1-1
by Mary Koski (2004)
Ambulances
by Gary M. Amoroso (2007)
Classroom Activities
- Students learn about ‘No Touch’ zones, personal boundaries, and consent using role play with stuffed animals.
- Use a feelings chart to discuss facial expressions in understanding consent.
- Play a Safety Sign bingo game.
- Plan a Fire Safety scavenger hunt.
- Host a Bike Rodeo on campus.
Partnering with the Family
- Start the conversation with your child about tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. Office of Disease Prevention and Health - Talk to Your Kids about Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs
- Kids create an Internet safety calendar as a gift to parents to serve as a monthly reminder for conversations about Internet safety.
- Families encouraged to have an emergency preparedness plan in place and a sign or poster in an accessible location on when to call 9-1-1.
Partnering with your School
- Student Safety Award
- Invite Principal to guest speak on safety measures and have students create a list of additional measures they want to see implemented (e.g. first aid kits in all classrooms).
- Invite older students to assist younger students in learning proper lifting and carrying techniques for backpacks.
- Create a fire safety Scavenger Hunt around the school. Locate items such as fire alarms, fire sprinklers, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and emergency exit signs.
- Show students where the automated external defibrillator (AED) is located and how it can be retrieved and accessed for someone who is having sudden cardiac arrest.
Partnering with your Community
- Guest Speakers: Local fire department, emergency management services, local drug counselor or drug prevention agency, Local non-profits, emergency physician, cybercrimes unit, environmental health specialist, health inspector, local news station.
- Take a walk in the neighborhood around school and ask students to point out safety signs.
- Invite guest speakers from community organizations to talk about safe routes to school and bike safety.
- Invite local fire department or emergency management services to teach the importance of practicing emergency, fire, and safety plans at home.