Safety Program Empowers Children

No one has the right to hurt me. 

I don’t have the right to hurt anyone else, including myself. 

It’s not my fault so I can run and tell. 

These three phrases define the radKids (resisting aggression defensively) child safety education and self-defense seminar hosted last week by Johns Creek Police.

About 30 children ages 7 through 12 from throughout the city went one-on-one with JCPD officers Tyler Seymour, Mark Johnson, Chris Smith, Madhusudana Meberg, and community services Sgt. Debra Kalish, learning various fight-to-flight techniques to help them recognize potential threats and how to get away from them. 

Voice commands also were emphasized, as each child approached various “strike” stations featuring a volunteer holding a punching pad or strike dummy. 

As the participant approached the nose and face strike station, Officer Seymour yelled “radKids stance!” Barely bigger than the practice dummy Seymour held, she positioned herself with her right leg back, left foot forward and arms and shoulder tilted forward in a defensive pose. 

“No! No! No!” the child screamed as she was instructed to do while she focused her closed-fist side strikes square on the dummy’s nose. Head butting, groin kicks and espcaping a bear hug from behind were also taught by instructors. 

“There is no greater investment than our children,” said Sgt. Kalish, who heads up the Johns Creek program. “Nine of out 10 kids will freeze when put in a dangerous situation or when someone is trying to take them. Why? Because no one ever taught them what do. radKids teaches on the instinctual brain how to react to a bad situation or even better, not to get into the situation in the first place.” 

During Friday’s graduation class, radKids participants suited up in full-face lacrosse helmets and knee, elbow and hand pads and went head-on with the “Red Men” - officers Meberg and Johnson in full padded red body suits and helmets made from lightweight but thick foam rubber.

For those old enough to remember, imagine two red life-size Rock’em Sock’em Robots lumbering around an elementary school gymnasium taking relentless punches and kicks for two straight hours from children half their size. 

The non-stop screaming alone would be enough to knock a grown man to his knees. 

“It’s not as heavy as you’d think it would be, but man it gets hot,” said Officer Johnson, dripping with sweat, as he and Meberg worked in shifts.

The 10-hour after school course also featured classroom-like instruction where officers and radKids volunteers - parents of school-age children themselves - would read from illustrated booklets featuring cartoon character children whose safety has been compromised. 

One instructional book, entitled Sam’s Secret, features child characters Sam and Jennifer. Sam is encountered by an older boy on a playground. 

The older boy attempts to touch Sam inappropriately and he tells his friend Jennifer, who in the past was victimized by an older man but was too afraid to tell.

Jennifer encourages Sam to tell his mother like she did in her situation. In the book’s epilogue, Sam addresses the audience directly, telling them that his mom was thankful he told and that police were very proud of his courage to come forward. Sam also reiterates that if anyone in the audience is ever touched inappropriately, it’s okay to tell.

The book is written by author Lisa M. Taub, who in the foreword describes her own experiences and struggles with childhood sexual abuse. 

Founded in 1998, radKids national chapter is based in South Dennis, Mass., but like Johns Creek’s program, all programs are run by local volunteers and sponsors. 

Duluth-based personal injury lawyer Gary Martin Hays and his Keep Georgia Safe foundation funds the Johns Creek program and offers volunteer instructor training and help in setting up local chapters. 

For more information about local programs, log on to www.radkids.org