Students participate in actual simulations where certified trainers act as aggressors. The trainers grab them, pick them up and drag them while children fight their way free with moves intended to stun offenders.

The programed is designed for children 5-12 years old and also goes into home and school safety, "out and about safety" and good, bad and uncomfortable touch.

Larsen said the program empowers children to replace fear with confidence, self-esteem and personal safety skills.

"We don't do anything to create a boogey monster in their head — the way we talk about it, we don't say there is a bad guy that is going to hurt you," said Jennifer Mickelsen, PTA president and radKIDS trainer at Plain City Elementary.

She said the program helps make fear a non-issue, and building confidence does away with that fear.

"I feel braver — I learned if someone is stealing you, you know how to get away from them," said Sydnee Ward, 10, a fourth-grader at Plain City Elementary who graduated from the program this month. "The hardest part was doing (defense moves) on (the trainer), we had to be confident and know that you can do it but it is sometimes scary when he is picking you up."

Larsen said in states like California parents pay around $100 for children to take the course outside of school. But in Utah Larsen has trained parents, P.E. teachers and PTA leaders who train students free of charge during school.

For more information about the program or becoming a certified trainer visit www.radKIDS.org.

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E-mail: terickson@desnews.com