Child's play is serious business at safety day

Nathan Randolph, 5, tests his skills by throwing rings at a plywood cat's tail. Nathan and hundreds of other children visited H.V. Griffin Park Saturday morning and took part in the United Way Child Safety Fair. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

There were fire engines, police cars, a Vanderbilt LifeFlight helicopter, and ambulances everywhere. Children ran around screaming and people snapped pictures of everything they could.

A major disaster?

On the contrary -- the United Way Child Safety Day was an overwhelming success.

"It's going very well," said Helen Garner, a volunteer helping children register and get their free identity kits about 10 a.m., shortly after the safety education fun fair began Saturday. "We've already had 45 or 50 sign up."

Booths were arranged around the pavilions at H.V. Griffin Park. Some booths just offered fun, from inflatable bounce houses to face painting. Many of the children got a trial run at the games they would play Saturday night at the parks and rec department's Haunted Trail.

But some booths offered much, much more. Volunteers, first responders and others stood ready to offer parents a chance to get their children fingerprinted for identity safety kits. Others taught children and parents home fire safety, or educated them about emergency first aid procedures.

"It's important," said Terry Vinson, training officer for the Shelbyville Fire Department. "Raising public awareness with the fire departments, the EMA, EMS, the police, the sheriff's office -- it puts us out here in the community. We work hard at it, but it's a good thing."

Vinson laughed and said most of his young visitors were more interested in climbing on the fire truck than hearing about fire safety.

"But once I start asking them questions, they start remembering what they've learned from when we go to the schools."

Samuel Norris, an elementary school child, about 5 or 6, was sifting through the informational brochures as Vinson spoke, wearing a red plastic fire helmet.

"It's always good to keep safe," he said. "I know to get down low and feel of the door before opening it. I know 'Stop, Drop and Roll'."

LifeFlight flight nurse Michael Gooch shows Jacob Hardy, 7, the different instruments they use on the helicopter. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The weather was clear and cool, which helped attendance, but then, so did the soccer tournament in the next field.

"The (LifeFlight) helicopter flew over real low and just stopped the soccer game," said Tonya Lane, watching her son, Grayson, 6, climb into the pilot's seat. "I told him he could come see it if he would just finish the game."

Grayson wasn't the only soccer player distracted by LifeFlight's arrival.

"I had this player I was trying to get to score -- I've been trying all season -- and when the helicopter came over, it was real low, and he just stopped," said Mike Rafferty, president of the Soccer Association and a coach as well. Laughing, he mimed his young player, staring open-mouthed up into the sky. "The ball just rolled right past his feet and he never even saw it."

Many of the soccer players and their parents visited the safety fair between, before or after their games, but some of the parents brought their children to the park just for the fair.

"I brought them for the fingerprinting, " said Angela Porter. "And I knew they'd have fun."

Courtney Dusek is another one who was eager to have her children get fingerprinted for the identity kit.

"People are taking children right and left these days," she said. "I want to keep them as safe as possible."

Bonnie Delk was there with her son and grandson and she saw the event as more proof of how the United Way helps in the community.

"United Way has helped so many people in so many different ways," she said. "It filters down and helps so many families, and children, and I think people don't realize that. I sing (UW Director) Dawn Holley's praises -- she's always out there trying to raise money for these nonprofits."