Hundreds of kids and parents came out to learn about proper precautions and procedures to avoid injury during Carbon County’s Community Safety Day at Mauch Chunk Lake Park on Saturday.

Hosted by Sen. John T. Yudichak, the Carbon County Commissioners, St. Luke’s University Health Network Kid Zone and Carbon Masonic Lodge 242, Safety Day offered all kinds of safety lessons, demonstrations and materials for visitors.

“This is our 10th year, and we are thrilled to have everybody come out today. We have so many different activities. We have 30 vendors that are here to talk about all different kinds of safety, to inform the families and the youth in the community,” Kid Zone’s Mindy Graver, the main event organizer, said. “We’ve had so many volunteers show up here today to make this event a success.”

Stations staffed by volunteer firefighters, police officers and first responders provided plenty of information and activities for everyone, from child identification packets to face-painting, poison control and more.

Albrightsville Volunteer Fire Company brought out its Fire Safety House and Mobile Command unit to provide an interactive fire safety lesson.

“We’re teaching children how to crawl out of the safety trailer, so that if they wake up in the middle of the night and there’s smoke in their house, they know how to get out of the house in a safe manner,” Lt. Mike Riley said.

Riley taught the kids how to test a door with the back of their hands to check if a room was burning, and then showed them how to crouch and crawl through a room filled with artificial smoke. Once they reached the end of the room, they were instructed on how to safely exit a second-story window.

Over at American Fire Company No. 1’s station, kids and adults were able to practice fire extinguishing tactics with a realistic, but safe, simulation.

“We came out here to get involved, provide some awareness for community safety. We have the fire extinguisher simulator, so we were able to show kids and adults the proper way to use a fire extinguisher,” Captain Bryn Zellner said.

Zellner said that putting out a fire with an extinguisher isn’t quite as easy as it looks.

“There’s a certain way to do it. You can’t stand too close, or you might actually spread the fire. Or, you could use the wrong type of fire extinguisher. If there’s a grease fire, you need a dry powder extinguisher. If you use water, you’re going to really spread the fire,” he said.

St. Luke’s Miners Campus Trauma Program Coordinator Kristie Leshko handled the brain injury awareness and bike safety station featuring the ever-popular coconut crusher.

After the coconut crusher demonstration, the kids were given free bike helmets fit just for them. About halfway through the day, the station had already given out more than 300 helmets.

Right along the waterfront, the Nolan Ritchie Stay Afloat Foundation offered resources and information for water safety.

Established in honor of a young man who drowned in the Lehigh River with his grandmother, the group aims to avoid another such tragedy through education and preparedness.

“His parents and friends started this in order to raise awareness about water safety and to give away life vests to children in the area. We’ve been here every year, giving away life vests and lake passes to give parents a safe place to bring their children,” volunteer Karen Berk said.

Over at Boat Launch B, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offered boat inspections for some additional water safety.

Community Safety Day attendees found the wealth of lessons and demonstrations to be valuable, and the free safety resources were appreciated.

“We got a smoke detector, and we just did the fire extinguisher. We came here last year, and we had fun and learned a couple things. I know they do the helmets, which is awesome, because she got one last year,” said Brenda Yarnall, who came out with her daughter Fiona.

After the kids hit up all the stands they could get to, they were able to turn in their stamp sheets for a raffle featuring 22 bikes.

Members of Carbon Masonic Lodge 242 helped purchase the bicycles with funds from the Jim Thorpers bike club, and by serving hot dogs and snacks at the food stand throughout the day.

“The whole day is for the kids, and the safety of the kids. We’re all about community involvement and doing things for the community, helping people to help themselves,” Worshipful Master Keith Hontz said.

Graver said that she was very pleased with the number of spectators, and hoped that every child and family member would go home with some valuable safety knowledge.

“There are so many preventable injuries and accidents in Carbon County. We see and read about it every day, so we’re looking to educate not just the children, but whole families as well. If we can prevent one injury or one death in the county, we’ve done our job then,” Graver said.