High Ridge Fire Protection District officials are eager to bring back the Show Me Safety Fair to Jefferson County, which Deputy Chief Roger Coleman said was last held more than 10 years ago at Northwest High School in Cedar Hill.
“This is a MoDOT (Missouri Department of Transportation), Cardinal Glennon and Healthy Blue event,” Coleman said. “They have the event every year, but we haven’t had one in several years in Jefferson County. It’s coming back to Jefferson County, which we’re excited about.”
The fair will return from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at High Ridge Fire Station 1, at 2842 High Ridge Blvd.
Coleman said 24 safety-oriented vendors will be at the event.
“The families, as they come, should be seeing a variety of safety vendors to talk to, besides seeing our open house, and our equipment,” Coleman said.
High Ridge Fire also will offer car seat checks and give away approximately 90 car seats.
“We have a car seat program here at High Ridge Fire that is sponsored through Safe Kids Worldwide,” Coleman said. “(Car seat regulation) does change all the time. As families grow and start having children, they need vehicles that will transport those children safely. The car seats have to fit into those vehicles.”
Coleman said High Ridge Fire will give away three types of car seats.
“We have convertible seats, which are rear-facing and forward-facing. There’s also the high-back boosters, which are forward-facing with harnesses. Then we also have the no-back boosters,” Coleman said. “If the child is around 7 or 8 years old, they get out of the car seat, per se, but they are too small or too short to fit the seat belt properly. We can give them a backless booster seat that will boost them up in the seat belt properly.”
The car seats will be installed in vehicles at no cost to patrons during the fair, Coleman said.
High Ridge Fire also will give away 100 bike helmets in all head sizes.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol, canine rescue dogs and High Ridge firefighters will put on demonstrations throughout the event.
The High Ridge Fire station will be open during the event for the public to explore, Coleman added.
He said visitors should stick around for lunch, when the firefighters will serve free hamburgers, hotdogs and chips.
“It’s going to be a big event,” Coleman said. “We’re expecting a few hundred people at least, so we’re excited about that. Children’s safety is huge for us.
“Everything’s free. Please come and enjoy the day.”
The event will be funded by sponsor Safe Kids Worldwide, Coleman said.