By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — Safety for area kids is at the heart of a new day set up by the Plymouth Emergency Medical Services.
The first “Kids Safety Fair” will be held — sponsored by Plymouth EMS, Lions Eye Institute, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center and the Knights of Columbus — at the K of C Hall on East Jefferson Street in Plymouth Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“It’s not just for kids and their parents, but grandparents, babysitters, day care workers, caretakers... anybody that works with children,” said Travis Replogle, the event’s organizer. “Anybody who has contact with kids needs to be sure everything is safe in that environment.”
The event features special guests, speakers and experts from Riley Hospital for Children and an impressive list of events and fun — all centered on making every environment safe for kids.
“We’re just trying to get information out there for everybody,” said Replogle. “Every day you read about tragic accidents involving kids and we want to try to help prevent that.”
It also gives kids a chance to see and get to know EMS professionals in a less-threatening light.
“We want to try to get out there and interact with kids. They’re told to be cautious of strangers and so many times when we have contact with them we’re wearing rubber gloves and all kinds of things that can be pretty scary to a kid,” said Replogle. “This gives kids in the community a chance to get to know us and be more comfortable with safety personnel.”
Representatives from the Plymouth Fire Department will be in attendance with the department’s new engine, the safe house and handing out smoke detectors and other “goodies.”
Riley’s will present features on pedestrian safety — especially as kids head back to school — poisoning and home safety. Bremen Fire Extinguishers representatives will have demonstrations, as will CVS Pharmacy and the Indiana State Police.
A demonstration with search-and-rescue dogs will be held and instruction on how to approach a dog. The Marshall County Police will also be there along with the med-flight helicopter ambulance.
Dr. Susan Bardwell’s office will also have representatives there from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to check your child safety seats in your car.
“We really hope to get this information out and get people to really follow it at home,” said Replogle. “A lot of times we’ll hand out a coloring book to kids at school but what really matters is if they take that information home and they and they actually follow it by putting together that emergency plan.”