Annual CAA camp teaches life-saving lessons to Ontario students

Grade 8 student receives school safety award

THORNHILL, ON, July 18, 2013 /CNW/ - For the past 44 years, a different and unique group of Ontario students arrive at Camp Samac in Oshawa as CAA School Safety Patrollers and after learning life-saving lessons they leave as Patrol Captains.

This year, approximately 130 patrollers were taught bus and fire safety, as well as first aid during a four day leadership camp from July 16-19. The soon-to-be Patrol Captains from Barrie, Brant County, Brantford, La Salle, London, Orillia, Peel, Toronto and Windsor took part in training provided by police officers from across Ontario.

Today at Camp Samac, 13 year-old Emily Bloomfield will be recognized with the CAA School Safety Patroller of the Year Award. The Oakland-Scotland Public School student has done an outstanding job as a foot patroller for the past three years and serves as a role model in her community. She is a responsible, reliable and dedicated volunteer.

In the fall, Emily reacted quickly and stopped a junior kindergarten student from stepping out onto the street and in front of a transport truck. The Grade 8 student's quick thinking and reaction helped prevent a tragedy. Meanwhile, during the first two weeks of school, Emily called the Brant County Municipal Office about the barely visible crosswalk markings in front of her school. As a result of her phone call, the crosswalk markings on the road were freshly painted before the end of the month.

"On behalf of CAA South Central Ontario, it is a privilege to honour Emily Bloomfield with the School Safety Patroller of the Year Award," said Leslie Rocha, Community Relations Specialist, CAA SCO. "The deserving Grade 8 student takes her job as a foot patroller seriously and performs her duties with great pride."

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.

CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club offering insurance, travel, automotive care and roadside services. There are more than 1.8 million CAA members in South Central Ontario and 5 million members in Canada. We're more than Roadside Assistance. We're Life-side Assistance.

SOURCE: CAA South Central Ontario

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