Safety Smarts

History

In 1997 a cross section of agricultural stakeholders in Alberta met to discuss and determine which groups would benefit most from farm safety educational efforts. From this meeting it was determined that the number one target group should be children. It was thought that mature farmers could be reached through their children. Also as these rural children would be the future farmers of Alberta, it was hoped that by beginning to teach them in their youth to recognize potential farm hazards, their future safety decisions might be influenced.
And so the school-based “Safety Smarts” program was developed.
In 1998 only grades 1,3 and 5 were taught. With this first attempt finding enthusiastic support from participating schools, grade 2,4 and 6 presentations were added in 1999. A set of programs based on the unique needs of Hutterite colony classrooms were added in 2002 and 2003. Program development and evalation is on-going..

Growth

Safety Smarts is Currently Offered in the Following School Jurisdictions

Southern Region

• Horizon #67
• Livingstone Range #68
• Palliser #26
• Prairie Rose #8 (Southern Half)
• Westwind #74

Eastern Region

• Foothills #38
• Golden Hills #75
• Grasslands #6
• Prairie Land #25
• Prairie Rose #8 (Northern Half)
• Rocky View #41

Central Region

• Battle River #3
• Buffalo Trail #28
• Chinook’s Edge #73
• Clearview #71
• Wetaskiwin #11
• Wild Rose #66
• Wolf Creek #72
  

Statistical Facts

1. In the 2005-2006 school year our three instructors travelled 50,204 kilometres bringing "Safety Smarts" to 16,778 students in 771 rural classrooms.
2. Testing was done in the 2005-2006 school year to measure student knowledge before and after safety lessons; average pre-test scores were 57% while post-test scores averaged 85%, a 28% improvement.
3. 64% of the children reported going home and discussing the lesson with their families, hopefully sparking an assessment of safety procedures on their individual farms.
4. In the 2005-2006 year Instructors were able to reach 63% of the rural schools in the southern half of the province, far exceeding our goal for this initial expansion year. The response from rural schools was overwhelming.
5. More than 90% of the 640 teachers who evaluated the Safety Smarts program, which their classes were taught, rated both content and delivery as excellent.

Please contact the centre if you would like more information.

- Curriculum

- Class Handouts