MOUNT VERNON — Judging from the reactions of the individuals who took part, Sunday’s Life Safety Expo held at the Mount Vernon Fire Department was a resounding success. Comments ranged from “It’s fun” to “It had more information than I expected.”
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“It’s been educational and informative,” said attendee Melissa Calbert. “It’s been a good reminder of safety practices. We’re glad we came.”
The Knox County Safety Council, Knox Community Hospital, the Knox County Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Knox County Health Department and the Mount Vernon Fire Department, along with MedFlight, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and McCluskey Fire Extinguishers, pooled their resources and expertise to conduct the expo and distribute prevention materials. Flu shots, free blood pressure checks and child safety seat checks were also part of Sunday’s prevention package.
Brian Hess of the Knox County Emergency Management Agency said it was good to see the tremendous turnout.
“It’s good to get people out here where you can educate them, at least a little bit,” about what each office does, and how to better prepare their homes for an emergency,” Hess said.
Assisted by two dispatchers, Hess talked with guests about 9-1-1 and answered questions about Homeland Security and emergency management and how that works specifically in Knox County.
The Knox County Safety Council helped to organize the Life Safety Expo. President Nancy Karam said the council, associated with the Knox County Chamber of Commerce and the [Ohio] Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, is a group of individuals concerned about safety. Her group distributed 500 free smoke detectors to event attendees, and sponsored a drawing for 15 plastic bins filled with home safety supplies, including a fire extinguisher from McCluskey Fire Extinguishers.