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 Kayleigh Browning, 10, of O’Fallon said she knows how to protect herself in case of a fire or a tornado thanks to lessons in school and presentations from the American Red Cross.
Kayleigh sat in the audience at the O’Fallon Public Library on Tuesday and listened to Torre Lewis, 19, of Belleville talk about safety measures used during fires and tornadoes.
Kayleigh said she heard a lot of the messages Lewis gave previously in school, but she learned things she didn’t know about tornadoes.
“If the sky gets green and dark gray, and it sounds like a train then it’s a tornado,” she said. “And if a tornado is coming, you should take cover.”
Lewis showed children what happens during a tornado with an experiment of two soda bottles attached at the necks filled with water and glitter.
“Do you see all this glitter at the bottom?” Lewis asked. “We’re going to pretend that is leaves and debris and when you shake this up it creates a tornado. And all that glitter, which is leaves and sticks and dirt, is being blown around and could hit you and your house.”
Synthia Kalinowski, youth services assistant, said since this summer’s theme is Super Heroes Powered by Books, she thought that children should get a chance to familiarize themselves with everyday super heroes such as members of the Red Cross.
“The true super heroes are those who help us if disaster strikes or teach us how to help ourselves,” she said.
Kayleigh said her family’s safe spot during a tornado is under the stairs in their house. Cody James, 8, and his brother Tanner, 4, both of Belleville said their safe spot is in the corner of the house in the basement.
Tanner said if there is a tornado people need to “get down” to safety.
Lewis reiterated the important message of Stop, Drop and Roll.
“If you are on fire you need to cover your face with your hands and roll around,” she said. “Because, would you rather have your face burned or your hands burned?”
In response, Tanner shouted “neither.”
Lewis and Rachel Allen, 18, of Swansea have been giving presentations on disasters for three weeks and said they love doing it.
“I have been volunteering at the Red Cross for two years,” Lewis said. “It’s something that I really enjoy doing.”
Allen said she decided to get involved with the Red Cross after participating in a blood drive for the Swansea Youth Government Council.
“It’s important to know how to stay safe in a disaster,” Allen said.
Cody said people can stay safe in fires and tornadoes.
“You just have to follow the rules,” he said.
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