Last week I was in Lansing with three other Community Service Troopers teaching the police-school liaison program, T.E.A.M. This program, Teaching Educating and Mentoring, is a curriculum with about 40 lessons for K-12, teaching the students a variety of lessons from the Big 5 Safety Rules (K-2) and Crime in the Community (6-8) to laws concerning gun, fire and computer safety to the high school students.

Our students were other police officers, deputies and troopers performing duties as their local school liaisons. They came from Flint, Grand Rapids, Brighton and Lansing, to name a few. Their experience ranged from 1 1/2 years in their department to 16 years.

The first day of training consisted of public speaking and classroom management. It is so important to understand the different age groups and how to keep their attention and to speak to them.

The next two days were spent on teaching the curriculum and bully information. On Thursday, each student presents a 30-minute class back to us, their mentor. A sigh of relief can be heard throughout the training area when this is completed.

On Friday, we instrucedt on emerging technology trends and school security, completing the day with a graduation.

The more positive contact we have with the students, the more beneficial and productive citizens we can help guide into our society. Although we are only one part of the growing and learning process for children, we are trying to do our part.

This week’s Do 1 Thing tip is still concerning shelter. Patrons should identify the best storm shelter in their home and practice getting to shelter with their family. Choosing the best place in your home or workplace to shelter from a tornado isn’t always easy. Many newer buildings don’t have a really good shelter area. Use these rules of thumb to find the best tornado shelter possible:

• Stay away from windows and skylights,

• Shelter “down and in” — Put as many walls between yourself and the outside as you can (think of the ceiling as a wall),

• Avoid rooms with large ceiling expanses, and

• Find an area large enough for everyone to stay comfortable for at least 45 minutes.

Although we are not in a hurricane zone, we can still prepare our homes the same way for tornados. We may not have to go to the extreme of covering our windows with plywood or hurricane shutters, but basic maintenance of the home will help. In the event of a tornado, stay inside and away from the windows until the storm has completely passed.

 

Rob Herbstreith is a Michigan State Police trooper and school liaison. Questions or comments can be emailed to TrooperRob53@yahoo.com