'Game On' brings home the message of safety

Via three large screens on the Coginchaug High School auditorium stage, third and fourth grade students stepped into a video game scenario where safety was the name of the game.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), in conjunction with the Local Wellness Council and the high school club Excellent Decisions Guiding Everyday (EDGE), presented the multi-media production "Game On," an award-winning program that reaches out to youth. A group of EDGE members saw the film at the MADD Power Camp last summer and felt it would be a great program to bring back to District 13.

Several EDGE students said the MADD Power Camp was a fun, eye-opening experience, and after seeing "Game On" they felt students could benefit from the message it sends. "It was a fun way to educate them about safety," said Ariana Giacco, of EDGE.

The film uses scenes from some of children's favorite movies like Ice Age, Curious George, Godzilla and Cars, with music by Natasha Bedingfield and Aly and AJ, with safety messages interspersed. A young girl narrates the program, and authoritative figures like Trooper Sparky Dean and Dr. J.A. "Tony" Herring of the Scottish Rite Hospital in Texas talk about various safety tips and making good decisions.

"It isn't an intense message about not doing drugs," said Jenna Langhans, also an EDGE member.

"Game On" talks about four different safety topics, including car and traffic safety, brain safety, self-protection and empowerment. Trooper Sparky told students to always buckle their seatbelts as it cuts the risk of injury by 70 percent. Also, the safest place to sit in a car is the middle of the back seat; it is 25 percent safer than the rest of the back seat.

Students also learned the "shoulder check" technique when faced with crossing streets. Most of us were taught to look left, right, then left again before crossing. The shoulder check takes that concept one step further, looking back all the way past the shoulder to get an even better view.

The "Game On" movie said the brain is to our body what a controller is to a video game - it controls everything. Dr. Herring said eating right, learning and making good decisions are all ways to keep the brain safe.

"Always wear a helmet," Herring said. "If you protect your brain, then your brain can protect you."

Using a bicycle helmet can reduce the risk of brain injury by 85 percent. The helmet should fit snugly on the child's head and the chin strap should be taut under the chin.

The brain doesn't stop growing until the age of 22, and the movie cautioned students to avoid alcohol and drugs which can affect the growth and health of the brain.

Bullying is a problem that people face at all ages. Sometimes all it takes is telling the bully to stop, said Trooper Sparky, but it is always good to tell an adult.

"Don't give up," he said, "and don't give in to the bully."

And when it comes to strangers, Trooper Sparky warned never to talk to anyone you don't know. If a stranger approaches, or tries to talk to you, he said to run, and find help from a trusted adult.

"Game On" also featured the inspirational professional skateboarder Jon Comer, who lost a foot after an accident. Despite the injury, Comer persevered and followed his skateboarding dream.

"You have to have a positive mental attitude," Comer said. "It can always be worse."

Comer encouraged students "just go for it," no matter what their dream is, to work hard and be drug free.

When the movie was over, the Korn and Lyman students in the audience asked to watch it again. Valerie Faiella, a mother of three sons - a third grader at Korn and twin five-year-olds - said the program was a good way to reach this age group with the safety messages. She brought her younger sons to the program as well, and said they listened and were engaged by it.

"I thought the content was very relevant and very important," Faiella said.

Liz Welsh, co-chair of the Local Wellness Council and advisor to EDGE, said the club was excited about bringing back this program to the district to help promote healthy living. "It's important for the high school students to do something for the younger students so they see them as role models," Welsh said.

While the messages in "Game On" were not entirely focused on being drug and alcohol free, the important focus for this age group was on making good decisions.

"If something doesn't feel comfortable, you need to say no and talk to a trusted adult," Welsh said.

Michelle C. Lettieri, assistant state director/development for MADD, said that Coginchaug sends the biggest contingent of students to the MADD Power Camp every year. "They are great role models for these kids to look up to," Lettieri said.

It is an especially good time to talk about these safety issues with warmer weather finding young kids out playing and riding bikes, Lettieri said.

"They're out there and they need to know about these issues," she said.

For more information on MADD visit www.madd.org.