Children learn how to stay safe, have fun
By John Joyce
Published in News on October 12, 2014 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Donald Riggs with the El Roy Volunteer Fire Department shows a group of children how to use a rescue tool.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
John Pullen holds his great-nephew Michael Newman, 1, as he looks around inside of a police car at the KidsFest and Family Safety Day at Berkeley Mall Saturday.
The sun turned out and so did Wayne County families, eager to see what all the fun was about at the 20th Annual KidsFest and Family Safety Day at Berkeley Mall Saturday.
Fire trucks and emergency response vehicles lined the parking lot outside Sears as the American flag flew overhead between two raised ladders.
Goldsboro Fire Marshal, Capt. John Morton, and public education supervisor Ava Crawford of the Wayne County Health Department spearheaded the event with lots of help from community sponsors.
"I'm glad so many people showed up," Morton said as he steered Sparky the Fire Dog's remote vehicle up to a group of small children inside Berkeley Mall.
He said he hoped there were as many people outside as there were inside.
Yolanda Applewhite of Goldsboro brought her grandchildren out to enjoy the fun and to learn about fire safety and prevention.
Malik Ellis, 2, and Amariah Ellis, 3 were nervous about going up to Sparky at first, but eventually petted him and told him what they were learning.
Their sister, Ariana Ellis, 6, got her face painted at The Bridge Church booth.
Several booths inside the mall captured the attention of young children with giveaways including coloring books, pencils and pencil sharpeners, rulers and wristbands -- all in the name of safety.
N.C. Forest Service Assistant County Ranger Bradley Stevens said the day was all about getting the kids involved.
"We talk to them about safety, you know, don't play with matches, and we teach them the slogan, 'Only you can prevent forest fires,'" Stevens said.
Smokey The Bear made an appearance not long after and was a big hit with the children inside the mall.
Meanwhile, outside in the parking lot, the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Fire Department teamed up with the Partnership for Children of Wayne County and members of the Goldsboro fire and police departments to inspect child safety seats.
The base Assistant Fire Chief Eric Harper said it was more than just about installing and inspecting the seats, it was about educating the parents on how to do it themselves.
"We have them watch, they learn how to do it, and then we have them do it," he said.
Three out of every four child safety seats are installed incorrectly, he said.
"But when you have them installed the right way, the survival rates double," Harper said.
Easy to remember slogans such as E.D.I.T.H. (exit drills inside the home) and "Get Low and Go," help get the children involved in their own safety, Morton said.
Wayne County volunteer fire departments represented Saturday included Dudley, El-Roy, Belfast, Oakland and Mar Mac, which brought out its emergency simulator trailer. The trailer is equipped with a hurricane winds simulator and smoke alarms to teach children about evacuating the home when an alarm sounds.
The Wayne County Health Department, the Department of Social Services, WIC, prevention services and several other departments were out, as were the American Red Cross and T. Chen's Martial Arts Fitness Center.
And by the end of the day, Morton and the KidsFest sponsors had given away four bicycles and more than 70 smoke detectors.