Safety Fair to offer lifesaving training to county families

Children throughout the county are faced with dangers in their communities every day, Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno said. To help families be proactive in keeping their children safe, Guadagno and the Sheriff's Office are joining forces with Greater Media Newspapers for the Monmouth County Family Safety Fair to be held Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ocean Township High School, West Park Avenue.

"Children are our greatest natural resource and to help protect that natural resource, we are promoting this family safety fair," Guadagno said. "The event will be filled with lifesaving programs and information aimed at educating children to keep them out of harm's way."

With schools now in session, Guadagno said the fair is a great opportunity to alert people of the possible dangers children can face in their communities. The goal of the safety fair is to provide as much training and information to as many families in Monmouth County as possible.

The programs offered for children and adults are as follows:

• Ident-Adult: senior citizen personal emergency card program

• Special Person ID: personal photo identification program specifically designed for handicapped and disabled persons

• Access 911: adults calling emergency services

• Reach for Your Dreams: anti-drug and anti-gang program

• Project Lifesaver: electronic location detection programfor seniorswithmemory disorders and children with autism

• Seek 911: program teaches children how to properly use 911 for emergencies

• Safe CARGO: specially trained and certified sheriff's officers inspect and properly install child safety seats

• Child ID Program: photo ID of child that parents can carry with them to use in the event their child becomes lost

• Fire Safety: information on fire prevention and safety, including a demonstration on a fire engine

• Bike Rodeo: program to educate parents and children on the safety aspects of bicycle riding

• Dive Team: overview and demonstration by the Aquatic Emergency Services Unit

• K-9 Unit: demonstrations and educational programs on detecting explosive devices

• Cyber Bullying & Predators: presentation on how to protect children from cyber bullying and predators

• Be Red Cross Ready: presentation on preparedness for a disaster or emergency

• Blood pressure screening

The family event will also feature ice cream, clowns, face painting and more.

"This is exactly what the [sheriff's] office is about," Guadagno said. "This is the type of preventative activity we hope in the end will save people's lives. I'm very excited about the possibilities."

Agencies involved in the Safety Fair are the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, the American Red Cross and the Ocean Township Police Department. Sponsors include Wegmans, Aramark, OceanFirst Bank and Rittenhouse-Kerr Ford.

Fair Flyer