Fairbanks to start Risk Watch program in schools

A child safety program implemented in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District this year will be implemented in Fairbanks this fall. Risk Watch, a comprehensive, injury prevention program targeted at schoolchildren preschool through eighth grade, has been made available to these districts through the Risk Watch Management Team (RWMT).

"Basically a team of agencies received a grant and began implementing [the program] in the Mat-Su Valley last year," said Niki Pereira, who works at the Alaska Injury Prevention Center, one of the RWMT members. "It provided the school district with trained people to go out and train teachers."

Risk Watch was developed by the National Fire Protection Association, which has recently granted the team $30,000 to implement the program in Fairbanks this fall. The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Washington has also granted $10,000 to the Denali Safety Council, which has dedicated the funds to implement Risk Watch.

RWMT is made up of members of the Alaska State Troopers, the Alaska State Fire Marshals and the Alaska Injury Prevention Center. Through grants and donations, the team hopes to bring the Risk Watch program to all school districts in the state. The core subjects are taught to the teachers, who will then pass the knowledge on to the students.

"These core subjects are based on the most predominant injury and death statistics for children nationwide," Pereira said.

The program will first be implemented in urban settings, then out to rural areas throughout the state. Pereria said one of the team's goals is to tweak the Risk Watch program to address northern concerns, such as cold water drowning, ATV safety and avalanche safety.