Nearly 200 kids across the city received a firsthand lesson on staying safe in the event of a disaster.

The Red Cross put on the safety event Wednesday at P.S. 23 called "Prepare with Pedro" to teach children what to do in case of emergency. 

Organizers say it's important for people of all ages to know what to do when the unexpected happens and that it's best to start teaching these life skills as soon as possible.

Prepare with Pedro is an interactive program that shows students in kindergarten through second grade what they need to do if a fire breaks out or any other hazardous situation happens.

The Red Cross says New Yorkers face these kinds of potential dangers every day. The organization even helped over 13,000 residents affected by local emergencies last year alone.

Volunteers say programs like this are necessary.

"This is an area where there is a higher concentration of fires and home fires, and we believe that by teaching kids early with lots of fire preparedness, hopefully it will get to the parents and they'll get the message that way," says Alexander Poku, volunteer at the American Red Cross.

The children also took home a book about what they've learned so they can share their new skills with their families as well.