Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers is inviting families to a free Children’s Safety Expo next month, offering hands-on activities, educational displays and emergency services demonstrations for kids and parents alike.
The event runs Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the St. Clair College Chatham Campus at 1001 Grand Avenue West.
“We are very excited for this year’s Children’s Safety Expo as it is a great opportunity for families to come out and learn about ways to stay safe at home, at school, and in the community,” said Erica McIntosh, coordinator at Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers. “Through live demonstrations, hands-on activities, and conversations with local first responders and safety professionals, children and parents will gain practical knowledge and confidence to help keep themselves and their communities safe.”
Among the featured attractions is a Kids Fingerprinting Clinic presented by Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers, where families can receive a free digital child identification record to keep on hand in case a child ever goes missing.
McIntosh said the program is meant purely as a resource for parents, not a record-keeping tool for authorities. “The finger print clinic provides the digital record that families can keep and it’s important for people to know that Crime Stoppers or the police does not store any personal information or keep any of the fingerprint records from this event. This is entirely for parents to have available with them should they ever need it,” she said.
Families can also register online for a free Car Seat Clinic, where certified professionals from Moraviantown Police will offer inspections and installation guidance. The clinic is limited to the first 12 families who sign up, and organizers are encouraging early registration through www.ckcrimestoppers.ca.
The expo will also feature live demonstrations throughout the day, including fire extinguisher training, the Jaws of Life vehicle rescue tool, a rollover crash simulator and a K9 agility demonstration, along with a display of emergency vehicles and equipment such as police cruisers, ATVs, fire trucks, an ambulance, a police boat, an armoured tank and a mobile command trailer.
Representatives from the Chatham-Kent Police Service, Chatham-Kent Fire Department, Ontario Provincial Police, Chatham-Kent EMS, Municipal Public Safety Services and Windsor Police Service are expected to be on hand to speak with families. Admission is free.
