MOULTRIE — Friday was Safety Day at Okapilco Elementary.

Organized by the Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce, the Youth Safety Day Camp is an annual tradition. This year, the chamber took the event into the schools.

Students learned about how to remain safe around electricity from Colquitt EMC representative Andy Croft, household chemicals from University of Georgia Extension Agent Larry Varnadoe, operating and riding all-terrain vehicles from Gene Hart, and while online from Extension Agent Glenn Beard.

“I was mortified to learn how many fifth graders have My Space and Face book,” said Amanda Holt Statom, vice president of marketing for the chamber. “Honestly, I think the parents need that class as much or more than the children.”

As an example to the children to stay off power lines or trees that are near them, Croft leaned a branch against power wires. It transferred electricity to a smoking point on the ground, Statom said.

Hart advised students riding an ATV to always wear a properly fitted and ATV-approved helmet. Other safety equipment that should be used is goggles, gloves, long pants and boots. There is a greater risk of injury if a child rides an ATV that is too large, he said.

Many accidents are caused by more than one person riding on the ATV, he said; most ATVs are made for one rider only.

ATVs are for off road use only. They’re not equipped with signal lights. Many accidents are caused by ATVs being driven on public roads, he said.