By: Darlene Tsao, Red Cross volunteer

“That’s not a penguin, it’s a lady dressed up as one.”

“Penguins don’t wear shoes!”

At Kimball Elementary in Seattle, Washington, Katelyn Firmand’s Kindergarten class is too smart to be fooled by the penguin costume worn by a volunteer for the American Red Cross. Good thing because the Red Cross is counting on these kids to act as advocates for emergency preparedness in their homes and communities as part of the Prepare with Pedro campaign.

Prepare with Pedro is a free, 30–45 minute, classroom-based presentation given by Red Cross employees, volunteers and community partners. It provides an introduction for students in grades K-2 to the concept of emergency preparedness in a fun and educational way.

Using storytelling and hands-on activities, students build muscle memory and basic coping skills. Each child takes home a Prepare with Pedro storybook, which includes a family safety checklist that allows families to learn and practice preparedness actions together.

Nationwide, the program has already helped educate over 50,000 students in schools and other youth organizations. Locally, Pedro teaches kids how to prepare for a home fire by demonstrating what sound a smoke detector makes and what to do when you hear it. The class also practices escaping a fire and how to calm down by breathing.

The Northwest Region of the Red Cross is ramping up efforts to present the program throughout the area and Katelyn Firmand’s class at Kimball Elementary was the first.

It was also my first time out as a Red Cross volunteer. I laughed as the children pointed out that our “Pedro” was not a real penguin. It was fun to help the kids with the “Get Low and Go” drill. What I really like is that through the Prepare with Pedro campaign, the Red Cross empowers children to act by showing them what to do. We give them a voice by teaching them important words. When we give them books to take home, we demonstrate our trust in them by asking them to share what they learn with their families.

My part was easy. I put a big “X” where the kids would all meet during our “Get Low and Go” drill. I pushed a button on a smoke detector and helped hold up a blanket so the class could pretend it was smoke. If helping kids be safe also means wearing a silly costume, I’ll do my part. I’m also workshopping some funny voices to use as Pedro.

If you would like to also volunteer with the Pedro the Penguin campaign, reach out to your local Red Cross chapter.

To learn more about all the different Prepare with Pedro presentations, go to our Emergency Preparedness Programs page.