Junior fire chief Tom Sawyer of Putnam Valley dressed for the
occasion.
The young man is four years old
CARMEL – Autumn-like weather greeted hundreds of families Saturday
to the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services complex in Carmel for
the county’s 13th annual Children’s Expo and Public Safety
Fair.
Children of all ages as well as their moms, dads and grandparents were
treated to a variety of exhibitions that brought awareness about aspects
of child safety from fire prevention to always buckling up when riding
in a vehicle as well as the proper fitting of bicycle helmets.
Keeping children safe was the theme of the fair that was highlighted by
rescue demonstrations courtesy of the Putnam Valley Fire Department.
The sheriff’s office brought its canines to the event while families
were also treated to lessons dealing with the safe handling of animals
and a visit from a magician, Cinderella and a storyteller.
The sheriff’s office also issued scores of Operation SAFE CHILD
identification cards.
There were dancers, singers, martial arts demonstrations and a real live
train that made the event its usual success.
The program was co-sponsored by the Putnam Bureau of Emergency Services,
Putnam Hospital Center and the Child Advocacy Center and was again held
in memory of Barbara Gross, an educator from Carmel, who lost her valiant
battle to cancer in 2011.
Marla Behler, CAC program coordinator, praised both her staff as well
as the county’s emergency responders for keeping families safe from
potential dangers and Commissioner of Emergency Services Ken Clair thanked
representatives from fire companies and ambulance corps for participating.
