“Just Yell Fire!” Stay-Safe Video for Teens

Yesterday’s USA Today (9D) ran a story about this year’s recipients of the National Caring Awards. According to the article, founder and director Val Halamandaris founded the Caring Institute and created the awards in 1989 after meeting Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who asked him to do something about the “poverty of spirit in America.” This year’s award winners — including both adult and young adult categories — are listed here.

The recipient that caught my attention was sixteen-year-old Dallas Jessup who as a sophomore at St. Mary’s Academy in Portland, Oregon, raised $500,000 from donations to produce a movie entitled Just Yell Fire, which she wrote to teach girls how to protect themselves. This blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do wrote and produced the film after hearing of the abduction and death of a young Florida girl. USA Today reports that “two million people in 37 countries have viewed the film.”

This film includes ten techniques — starting with the “FIRE!” (rather than “Help”) yell. Written by teens, for teens — watch this with your teen today!