What a better way to spend a Saturday with the family than by practicing safety?

South Kitsap Fire and Res-cue will team with other local agencies to host the ninth annual Safety Awareness Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 22 in the Fred Meyer park-and-ride lot.

The event will offer a variety of opportunities for children and adults to learn about fire safety, water safety, poison safety, helmet safety, pedestrian safety, power safety, ambulance safety and emergency preparedness.

“A Washington State Patrol (WSP) trooper will be on hand with their patrol unit on display,” said WSP Trooper Krista Hedstrom. “We will be available to answer any questions adults or kids have and also learn what a trooper does while on patrol. We will also have activity books available that cover education on car seats, proper seatbelt use and bicycle safety, as well as educational materials for parents which cover these same topics.”    

“The first fair was in 2001 at one of the fire stations where we held a bike rodeo and a free helmet give away to those who couldn’t afford to buy one,” said SKFR Battalion Chief Mike Wernet. “Now it has grown into a full safety awareness event.

“We still do the bike rodeo and free helmets,” he said, “but we’ve added a number of partners over the years with free stuff and information about being safe. Everything from fall prevention, home safety, disaster prep, candle safety, boater safety, car seat safety, smoke alarms and personal safety, just to name a few things. There’s a little something for everyone.

The event will also include a “Touch a Truck” event in which kids can get interactive with a cement truck, a tow truck, police cars, ambulances and fire trucks.

This year Group Health, Harrison Medical Center, Safe Candles, Safety Books and the Washington State Home Sprinkler trailer will be new additions to the program.

“The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Department will have a phone for the kids to practice dialing 911,” said Tami Walthall, “and a game wheel they can spin, answer a question and win a prize.

“We also want to talk to the community about when to call 911,” she said, “knowing the location of the emergency and not to text 911.”

For questions or for more information contact, call (360) 871-2411, or visit the South Kitsap Fire and Rescue website at www.skfr.org.