Teaching the ABCs of safety
Kids learn importance at fire station’s fun safety fair
It was family time well spent for the Ault Family — Ryan, Shauna and their children Hudson, 4, and Emery, 3, of Brunswick — who all thoroughly enjoyed themselves at the safety fair. Photo by JAIME ANTON
NORTH ROYALTON – It’s not every day the childhood dream to have free rein to explore the inside of a firetruck, bomb squad, helicopter and ambulance comes true.
But that’s just what happened for the dozens of young and young at heart who attended the 21st Annual Fire Safety Fair and Open House on May 20 at the firehouse.
Wyatt Periandri, 3, was mystified by all the gadgets and vehicles.
“Wyatt is obsessed with firetrucks and helicopters,” his dad Richard said as he watched Wyatt check out the bomb squad’s “bomb bot” Brutus. “When he heard there would be a helicopter, he was really excited to see that too.”
It’s fun but fun with a purpose. Kids and adults have the opportunity to have a blast but while also learning potentially lifesaving information. This wasn’t lost on some of the children.
The importance of safety rang home for Marina Moawad, 9, and Ereny Potroos, 7, who both had a great time but, more importantly, walked away from the fair with more knowledge when it came to placing 911 calls.
Marina was able to practice not only making them but learn just what to say to make the call more productive. Hopefully it’s information she will never need, but she’s now fully prepared if ever she finds herself in such a situation. Practicing 911 calls was her favorite part of the event.
“I liked the phone. We know what to do in case something real happens and what we should say,” she said.
“That we can learn how to be safe,” Ereny added of her favorite part of the fair.
For others, it wasn’t just about scoping out the vehicles and learning about safety, it was also about seeing safety heroes up close.
“We want to teach our children the importance of heroes and safety,” Shauna Ault, of Brunswick said.
She and husband Ryan spent the afternoon at the fair with children Hudson, 4, and Emery, 3.
Bill Skowronski, of North Royalton, agreed. He shared the day with grandson Evan Ross, 2.
“We love North Royalton. We came last year, and it was a lot of fun with the kids. I like to support our service people. I used to work for the Environmental Protection Agency, so I know service people work hard and don’t get enough credit,” he said.
Ken Wolnik, chief of community affairs for the city’s Community Emergency Response Team, said he appreciates this event highlighting the safety forces, which are pivotal to the community.
“This is an ideal event to get people to know the safety forces, and we do have a great police and fire department,” he said. “It warrants support for the EMS levy. I have a high regard for the safety forces. I need them more than they need me.”
But that’s just what happened for the dozens of young and young at heart who attended the 21st Annual Fire Safety Fair and Open House on May 20 at the firehouse.
Wyatt Periandri, 3, was mystified by all the gadgets and vehicles.
“Wyatt is obsessed with firetrucks and helicopters,” his dad Richard said as he watched Wyatt check out the bomb squad’s “bomb bot” Brutus. “When he heard there would be a helicopter, he was really excited to see that too.”
It’s fun but fun with a purpose. Kids and adults have the opportunity to have a blast but while also learning potentially lifesaving information. This wasn’t lost on some of the children.
The importance of safety rang home for Marina Moawad, 9, and Ereny Potroos, 7, who both had a great time but, more importantly, walked away from the fair with more knowledge when it came to placing 911 calls.
Marina was able to practice not only making them but learn just what to say to make the call more productive. Hopefully it’s information she will never need, but she’s now fully prepared if ever she finds herself in such a situation. Practicing 911 calls was her favorite part of the event.
“I liked the phone. We know what to do in case something real happens and what we should say,” she said.
“That we can learn how to be safe,” Ereny added of her favorite part of the fair.
For others, it wasn’t just about scoping out the vehicles and learning about safety, it was also about seeing safety heroes up close.
“We want to teach our children the importance of heroes and safety,” Shauna Ault, of Brunswick said.
She and husband Ryan spent the afternoon at the fair with children Hudson, 4, and Emery, 3.
Bill Skowronski, of North Royalton, agreed. He shared the day with grandson Evan Ross, 2.
“We love North Royalton. We came last year, and it was a lot of fun with the kids. I like to support our service people. I used to work for the Environmental Protection Agency, so I know service people work hard and don’t get enough credit,” he said.
Ken Wolnik, chief of community affairs for the city’s Community Emergency Response Team, said he appreciates this event highlighting the safety forces, which are pivotal to the community.
“This is an ideal event to get people to know the safety forces, and we do have a great police and fire department,” he said. “It warrants support for the EMS levy. I have a high regard for the safety forces. I need them more than they need me.”