CAA camp teaches students safety basics

OSHAWA, ON, July 20, 2016 /CNW/ - More than 120 young children from across southern Ontario are gaining valuable safety skills at this year's CAA School Safety Patrol Leadership Camp.

The annual camp is back to empower elementary school children with hands-on training and demonstrations about fire prevention, emergency first aid and bus safety.

Between July 19 to 22, future safety patrol captains from Barrie, Brantford, Orillia, Peel, Toronto and Windsor will take part in training provided by police officers and firefighters at Camp Samac in Oshawa.

"I love seeing the safety patrollers change from a shy student to an empowered leader when camp is over," said Albert Pasceri, Community Relations Specialist, CAA South Central Ontario. "It's such a unique experience we're able to give, that makes a difference for community safety by encouraging a new generation of responsible students."

"CAA's School Safety Patrol Leadership Camp builds confident young leaders. I have seen patrollers stay calm and take charge in a crisis situation when adults around them are panicking. This camp is an amazing opportunity for patrollers to grow as leaders," said Jill Miller, Constable, Toronto Police Service.

Since 1929, the CAA School Safety Patrol program has run in partnership with police services, school boards, teachers, bus consortiums and student volunteers. School safety patrollers dedicate over 3.45 million volunteer hours each year to community safety. There are currently over 55 police services, more than 800 schools and over 20,000 elementary school students involved in the program.

As a leader and advocate for road safety and mobility, CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club which represents the interests of 2 million members. For over a century, CAA has collaborated with communities, police services and governments to help keep drivers and their families safe while travelling on our roads.

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SOURCE CAA South Central Ontario

Image with caption: "CAA School Safety Patrol program infograph. (CNW Group/CAA South Central Ontario)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160720_C3820_PHOTO_EN_736581.jpg

For further information: Media contact: Silvana Aceto, Media and PR Consultant, CAA SCO, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone] or Jeff LeMoine, Communications Consultant, CAA SCO [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone]