Cindy MacDougall
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 19/00) - Rebecca Mahler knows what to do if one of her classmates starts choking.

"You do it like this," the 10-year-old said as she firmly grasped classmate Sierra Mitev and demonstrated the Heimlich manoeuvre, which can expel an object from a choking person's throat.

The grade 5 Ecole St. Joseph students learned the manoeuvre, as well as other ways to protect themselves and others, as part of the Yellowknife Fire Department's RiskWatch program.

The program, used across North America, teaches students how to protect themselves and help others. It teaches simple first aid, fire and accident safety and how to make smart safety choices.

Volunteer firefighter Ann Kall, who teaches the program at Ecole St. Joseph, school, said RiskWatch goes beyond the usual safety messages children hear.

"We teach the children why they should stay safe, instead of the old lecture format," she said. "We're not just blurting the old safety message any more."

For example, Kall said during the helmet portion of the program, children learn about brain and spinal injuries, and how such an injury can affect their lives.

The Grade 5 students were eager to share their knowledge during a rally at the school celebrating the program Monday, showing the other children their safety skills.

Teachers will start the RiskWatch program with all the school's classes this month.

"They (the Grade 5 students) have been great," said Kall as the children met with Freddy the Fire Truck, Sparky the fire safety dog and members of the RCMP, fire department and the Department of Transportation.

"Their enthusiasm and their willingness to share with the others is just amazing."

Assistant principal Carole Forget said the teachers are also enthusiastic about RiskWatch.

"This is our second year with RiskWatch. Last year, five teachers took part, and this year we already have 10," she said.

"We're partaking in the program because we want the children to be safe and safety conscious."

Mitev and Mahler said the program is important to them.

"We'll be able to know how to help so if someone was in that situation, we'd know what to do," Mitev said.

RiskWatch is currently only taught at St. Joe's, however, Kall said the fire department is meeting with other schools about the program.