"In the early drug education program, we teach the youngsters the importance of not putting anything into their bodies that could harm them.” Hasty said in a statement. “The children also learn they are special and unique. No one looks, talks, walks, laughs, or cries just the way they do. No one has the same smile, hair, eyes, or personality.”

Hasty said the mascot helps to teach children, “No one will ever be just like you, and being different is OK. In fact, the children learn to celebrate their differences, and learn how to make their own choices. We teach them how to make positive choices. The consequence of a good choice is much different from those when we make a bad choice.”

The National Child Safety Council is the creator and designer of the materials. The council is a federal tax-exempt organization that reaches children in kindergarten through fifth grade, and gives the youngsters information about drugs, while teaching in a non-threatening way.

Hasty said the materials the department will be using this year are friendly police, beware and be aware, bullying is wrong, general safety, 911, good and bad guys, what if a stranger, internet safety, distracted driving, gateway drugs and sexting.

The children will learn safe living, while having fun with the games, pictures, puzzles, riddles, rhymes and songs throughout the manuals, he said.

Also included are senior citizen programs such as fraud, cons and scams.

“The diversified materials ensure that as the children grow, they learn different safety or drug messages,” Hasty said

Safetypup is the national mascot for the council and first appeared on half-pint milk cartons and missing children milk cartons in 1985.