By Staff
Highlights include clinic and safety house experience
By GREG KATSKI
Staff Writer
When asked, some children respond that they want to be firefighters when they grow up. On Saturday morning, approximately 100 children got a taste of firefighting at the Kids Safety Expo, held by the Lowes Home Improvement Warehouse of Washington.
The expo, held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., was chiefly sponsored by the Beaufort County Fire Association, Beaufort County EMS Association, PCS Phosphate and Lowe’s.
Volunteers from the fire and EMS associations were on-hand to give demonstrations and tips to the youngsters.
A Lowe’s kids clinic was held at the expo, inviting children to piece together model firetrucks. Volunteers worked hand-in-hand with the children to construct the models.
Crystal Marriner, communications supervisor with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and event planner, was satisfied by the turnout, considering the gloomy weather.
The expo, in its second year at Lowe’s, received about the same turnout as last year’s event.
Marriner said the event’s volunteers handed out 75 fire helmets to excited youngsters.
The event is held in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week.
Children learned a lot about fire prevention by walking through the Beaufort County Fire Association’s Kids Safety House.
The safety house helps children learn what to do in case of a household emergency.
Dustin Cox, volunteer firefighter with the Bunyan Fire Department, asked a group of children going through the house what to do in such a situation.
Keith Rakowski, volunteer firefighter with the Chocowinity Fire Department, showed the children a effective fire escape plan.
Marriner said she thinks the safety house demonstrations and others at the expo will help “get the point across to kids of safety first.”