Students at Head Start St. Clair got a special treat on Friday, Feb. 26 when the school held its Safety Awareness Day. Members of the Pell City Fire Department, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Clair EMA were on campus to meet the students.

“We want to honor those that keep us safe every day,” St. Clair County Head Start Director Latoya Orr said. “They sacrifice for our benefit and we wanted to thank them and teach the children to appreciate all that they do.”

Beyond showing gratitude for what law enforcement and emergency personnel do for the community, Orr wanted to give students a chance to meet them and view them as their friends. 

“It’s important for our children to understand that these people are here to help them,” Orr said. “We want them to feel safe with them and know they are there to protect them.”

The students made cards for the emergency personnel and had a chance to see a PCFD fire truck up close. After the program ended, the school held a fire drill for the students, making sure that they were trained on exiting the buildings efficiently. 

“Safety is priority for us,” Orr said. “We want our children as educated and prepared as possible.”