2015 Safety Day to showcase local, national public safety services

Public safety forces from fire and emergency medical services to law enforcement and military are uniting in celebration of Jackson Township’s Bicentennial to present 2015 Safety Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 3, 2015 at Grove City High School.

The public safety education day will include car extrication demonstrations, up-armored Humvee display, arson dog meet-and-greet, distracted driving simulator, and an expected visit by Air Evac and MedFlight helicopters.

Participating agencies in addition to the Jackson Township Division of Fire include the American Red Cross Disaster Services, Box 15 Fire Rehab Services, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Grove City Division of Police, Air Evac, MedFlight, Ohio Air National Guard, Ohio Army National Guard and Ohio Fire Marshal.

“Safety Day 2015 is going to be a one-of-a-kind event for the residents of Grove City, Jackson Township and Urbancrest,” said Fire Chief Rick Dawson, Jackson Township Division of Fire. “There will be educational activities, and fun for little ones and adults alike.”

Scheduled demonstrations include the following.

  • Homeland Response Force Search and Extrication
  • Bomb, drug and arson dogs identifying targets
  • Rescue crew rappelling demonstration
  • SWAT exploration: equipment and training
  • Hazardous materials unit in operation
  • Chemical scrub down by emergency personnel
  • Safety forces practicing reaction to a natural disaster or terrorist attack
  • Police and military mobile emergency command posts
  • Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit, Bomb Squad and Dive Team
  • Fire department ladder operations and auto extrication
  • Touch-a-truck including Jackson Township and City of Grove City service department vehicles
  • Central Ohio Strike Team trailer
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Mobile Emergency Operations Center

The Ohio Army National Guard will also have a climbing wall that visitors can experience.

Township fire personnel, thanks to a generous donation from Home Depot in Grove City, constructed a small house on a 10-foot trailer to simulate a house on fire. Spectators will be able to spray hoses at the house to extinguish simulated flames.

“I think children will especially enjoy our kids fire house exhibit that allows them to experience firsthand what it is like to use a real firefighter hose to put out a house ‘fire’ at Safety Day,” Dawson said.

The always-popular Jackson Township Division of Fire’s smoke trailer that simulates a smoking house and teaches children how to escape a fire by crawling across its floor to safety will be at the event. Several area food truck vendors will be at Safety Day including Blu Olive, Bubba’s Shaved Ice, Short North Bagel Deli and Paddy Wagon BBQ.