BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers ‘TAKE THAT’—Caitlyn Pruneau, a student at Pinecrest Elementary School, punches stuntman John O’Weger as she learns to protect herself from strangers. During a safety program children were taught the mental and physical techniques they should know to help survive abuse and abduction. Janet Adair saw the school flyer advertising a 10-week safety and self-defense course for children.

“It sounded like something I wanted Jacob to be a part of,” said Adair of her 6-year-old son.

Jacob and about 100 other students at Pinecrest School in Thousand Oaks graduated from the radKIDS course last Monday.

“It was fun,” Jacob said.

Scott Groza, who runs Crime Protect, Inc., a company that offers safety products and education programs, said the radKIDS curriculum empowers children mentally and physically.

Taught to more than 75,000 children across the country, the radKIDS course was developed by a Massachusetts nonprofit for children 5 through 12 years old. The course teaches children personal safety techniques, including how not to become a victim of abductors and bullies. RadKIDS, which stands for resist aggression defensively, has been featured on “America’s Most Wanted” and other TV programs.

The one-hour classes show children what to do in situations that threaten their safety through simulation drills that heighten the sense of urgency a child would experience during a real incident. Groza said the course simulates realistic scenarios, similar to the attempted kidnappings recently reported in Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks.

“We take fear out of the equation and make it a fun and safe environment,” he said.

“We thought it’s a very worthwhile program,” said Pinecrest director Gwynn White, whose 6year-old daughter attended the class. “It just seems beneficial in today’s world that these kids are given the tools (needed) in case of danger.”

According to Groza, 25 children nationwide who graduated from radKIDS have been confronted by an abductor and used the techniques to escape. Children are taught realistic defensive moves that would stun a wouldbe abductor and give the child time to get to safety.

“What predators are always looking for is an easy target,” Groza said.

They also learn practical physical skills to avoid being hit by a bully bent on harassing them. Groza said radKIDS isn’t a martial arts class, however. “The object is for them to get out of there and get to a safe zone,” he said.

The cost of the course varies. For more information, call Groza at (800) 295-3960, ext. 41.