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CNN Live Today

Children Learn Basic Safety Skills in Illinois

Aired July 17, 2002 - 12:42   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The kidnapping case in California only adds to the fears of parents, who wonder every day how to keep their children safe. In Naperville, Illinois, there is a new program that teaches survival skills to 5 and 6-year-olds, and that's where we find CNN's Keith Oppenheim. Keith, tell us about this program.

KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sure, Kyra. What I'm about to show you is a fairly elaborate version of a somewhat common thing, lot of cities and towns use parking lots, high school gyms to teach kids about safety. But seven years ago in Naperville, Illinois, they built a $1.2 million complex called Safetytown. It's got, as you can see, a railcar behind me. There are miniature streets, all kinds of things to teach 5 and 6-year-olds, preschoolers and kindergartners, the basics of safety.

I'll give you one example. They teach kids how to make a 911 call. While that may seem rather simple, keep in mind the kids learn what to report, how to give their address and phone number, things that can make a big difference to police or emergency crews.

They also learn the rudiments of hand signals on, in this case, tricycles. And it's not just how to signal left, right and stop, it's showing these kids how to be aware of what's going on around them and also to the follow rules of the road.

Safetytown classes also teach kids about what firefighters and police and paramedics actually do, staff from Naperville's various emergency departments and state park and showing kids what it's like to hold a fire hose, and in general, showing them how these various professionals can help.

We are going to take you back live now to what's called the Smoke House. Now, this is a mini-building. It's complete with a kitchen and bedroom, and kids learn about fire safety here. The staff here actually fill the rooms with artificial smoke. It's billowing out. Children learn to avoid the hot door, a door that might have fire on the other side in an actual emergency. So instead, the kids learn to find safety by escaping out the window.

Seventeen hundred children, or about that number, take part in the Naperville safety program each summer. Worldwide, there are actually 1,200 different Safetytowns, Kyra. This one is probably a lot more elaborate than most. And I should add that on Fridays, what do the kids have? What else? Graduation -- back to you -- Kyra. PHILLIPS: Oh, that's great. Keith, how much does it cost? And how can we get our kids signed up?

OPPENHEIM: Well, it's only $30, so it's very reasonable. Getting signed up actually has turned into a lottery system. The problem was that there was such a waiting list for this in Naperville that they decided to be a little bit more fair about it, and the lottery system seems to have worked well. It is very popular and obviously successful.

PHILLIPS: Is there a Web site, Keith?

OPPENHEIM: I don't know that there is a Web site. I'll just ask them. Is there a Web site, anybody, for this? No -- yes, I think there is, and we can try to get that information. No, no, there is not. I am sorry about that.

PHILLIPS: OK.

OPPENHEIM: That's the best way to get information around here, Kyra, is just to yell and ask.

PHILLIPS: There you go. Hey, Keith, that was great. That we needed to know. I know -- well, I know -- hey, I get the e-mails. I know a lot of people are going to want to know. Well, maybe you can get them working on a Web site.

OPPENHEIM: OK.

PHILLIPS: Keith Oppenheimer, thank you so -- great story, Keith.

OPPENHEIM: Sure.

PHILLIPS: Thank you so much.

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