When it comes to teaching preschoolers about disaster preparedness, nothing works better than using Sesame Street puppets. That’s what Red Cross youth volunteers have learned this year as they teach disaster readiness to children at libraries across the Southland. There are five more free shows scheduled in July at Los Angeles Public Library branches (see below for schedule). The shows are open to children ages 3-10 years old and their parents.

Working in conjunction with the Los Angeles Public Library system, Red Cross youth members began taking the show to libraries in February, starting at the Sylmar branch. Since then, more than 40 youth volunteers (teenagers who are affiliated with Red Cross high school clubs) have performed puppet shows at seven other L.A. libraries and are booked through July.

Children’s librarians promote the puppet show in their local community and the events bring in crowds as large as 150 children and parents per show.

“Holding the attention of a four-year-old while lecturing on a topic like earthquake safety would be nearly impossible without the puppet show,” said Erica Helson, Youth Services liaison for the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles.  “Elmo comes out and the kids are star-struck; they listen carefully as he teaches them about earthquake and safety tips.”

The preschoolers are trained in three shows: Beat the Quake, Crawl Low in Smoke, and Stop, Drop, and Roll.  Each consists of educational skits and features lively music, all performed by their friends from Sesame Street. Characters give children directions on what to do during an earthquake or fire and youth volunteers follow-up the show with additional information. Parents are advised to practice emergency drills at home and are encouraged to build a disaster kit for their family.

For information about hosting a disaster preparedness puppet show or becoming a Red Cross youth volunteer, please contact Erica Helson at (424) 832 – 6501 or at Helsone@arcla.org.

The following Sesame Street Disaster Preparedness Puppet Shows are scheduled in July:

• Friday, July 17 @ 11am: Will & Ariel Durant Branch Library
  7140 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046
• Monday, July 20 @ 3pm: Alma Reaves Woods, Watts Branch Library
  10205 Compton Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90002
• Thursday, July 23 @ 4pm: West Valley Regional Branch Library
  19036 Vanowen St., Reseda, CA 91335
• Tuesday, July 28 @ 3:30pm: Porter Ranch Branch Library
  11371 Tampa Ave., Porter Ranch, CA 91326
• Thursday, July 30 @ 4pm: Fairfax Branch Library
  161 S. Gardner St., Los Angeles, CA 90036

Photo: Red Cross youth volunteers (top row l to r): May Nakagome, Dorsa Davari, Heejae Yang (and bottom row l to r) Yasmina Elsouri, Nikta Jaberzadeh, Ellen Bruno and Kiyoko Nakano use Sesame Street puppets to teach disaster preparedness to children at the Central Library in downtown Los Angeles.