Published: April 24, 2007 08:35 am            

Safety Fair coming soon

There are few places you can pet a pot-bellied pig, feast on freshly grilled hamburgers, watch a dummy be thrown from a rolling car and see children take a hands-on approach to safety.

But this May 12 from noon until 2 p.m. at the Madison County Fair Grounds, participants in the 2007 Safety Fair can do all that and more.

More than 30 local and state vendors will be setting up displays both inside the smaller fair ground building and outside, weather permitting, said Carl Richards, Madison County EMA director. Among the displays will be information about the importance of smoke detectors, boat and hunting safety, severe weather, knowing your zone and other general safety materials.

An emergency helicopter as well as an ambulance will be on hand for participants to view, a local rescue team will demonstrate vehicle extrication, Bluegrass Army Depot officials will demonstrate their portable lab for igloo testing and their protective equipment and the state’s rollover simulator will show the importance of seat belts, Richards said.

“It is a little bit of everything for everybody,” he said.

In its third year, Richards said the event is meant to be educational as well as entertaining. Children also will be able to participate in a petting zoo with llamas, goats and “funky-looking” rabbits and chickens, he said. A caricature artist will be available to draw free pictures of the children after they race on the air obstacle course.

Everything at the event from the hot dogs and drinks to the displays and parking is free, Richards said.

“Residents don’t have to spend a dime,” he said. “They can come out and enjoy the day.”

The event began when Richards and Madison County CSEPP Director Michael Bryant decided to have an open house of sorts to educate the public about safety. However, when they realized they didn’t have the space at the Madison County Emergency Operations Center, the fair grounds became the fair’s home.

While there is plenty of entertainment for the children, Richards said the goal also is to provide an opportunity for parents to come and check on things they may have questions about while providing a safe and fun environment for children to become engaged in safety issues. Families, together, can find a plethora of information on different topics.

“There is almost always something that people probably didn’t know as much as they thought they knew,” Richards said. “It is a great event. It is our way of giving back to the community.”

Kelly Foreman can be reached at kforeman@richmondregister.com or 624-6694.

        

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