FRESNO (KMJ) — Valley schoolchildren have been learning all about how not to get hurt while having fun today – in a massive event inside Fresno’s Chukchansi Park.
The 10th Annual May Day Summer Safety Fair and Drowning Prevention Program was all about making sure valley kids are as safe as possible in the summer months. Various groups such as CHP, Fresno County Sheriff’s Department, Fresno PD, L.A. Street Smarts, CRMC and Valley Children’s Hospital all took part – along with more than 3000 elementary school children.
Amongst the stands at Chukchansi Park were visits with police K9 units, pedestrian safety, and distracted driver courses (for the parents).
“We’re doing some water safety too”, says Kristina Pasma with Safe Kids Central California. “We’re getting closer to summer and swimming season…although kids drown all year round, not just in the summer time. We see kids drown in their bathtubs and toilets and buckets of water and it is Memorial Day weekend so it’s a fun weekend for a lot of families. We’re just reminding them how to be safe”.
But the big draw for the children were the four helicopters that landed on the playing field. CHP’s helicopter, the Skylife Air Ambulance, Valley Children’s Air George and Fresno Sheriff Department’s Eagle One all thundered across Downtown Fresno with a crowd of kids eagerly watching.
“Who doesn’t love helicopters, especially when you have four of them landing at the park”, says CHP Officer Axel Reyes. “It’s always exciting for the kids to see”.
There were more than 30 exhibits on display, and organizers say having the event on a school day is the best way to make sure the safety message gets through to as many children as possible.
