Safety fair scheduled, Celina Record

Children, teens invited to attend inaugural safety fair in Celina Lisa Ferguson, lferguson@starlocalmedia.com Jun 12, 2016 A safety fair designed to teach children and teenagers how to stay safe during summertime activities will be Tuesday at Celina Town Center, 1060 S. Preston Road. Children’s Health Pediatric Group’s Celina clinic, located in the center, has partnered with the Greater Celina Chamber of Commerce, State Farm Insurance, the Celina Police Department and other local government agencies and businesses to present the free event. Several hundred people are expected to attend the two-hour fair, during which kids and their parents can learn the dos and don’ts of sun, pool and bicycle safety as well as tips for healthy eating and other information. The Celina police and fire departments will have vehicles available for children to explore, and D&L Farm and Home’s local outlet will park a tractor at the center. “We are still a farming community, so they’re going to talk to the kids a little bit about farm safety,” Melissa Cromwell, president of the Greater Celina Chamber of Commerce, explained of the tractor display. State Farm will sponsor a bicycle rodeo similar to an event held earlier this year for residents of the Carter Ranch subdivision. A pair of bicycles – one for a girl, the other for a boy - will be raffled, and Children’s Health will give away free bike helmets to each child while supplies last. “We really just wanted to create a fun atmosphere … to kind of bring awareness to families now that it’s summertime … kids will be swimming and riding their bikes more,” said Sabrina Summers, office manager at Children’s Health. The safety tips are especially important: Each year, 26,000 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms for traumatic brain injuries related to bicycle riding, according to the Safe Kids Worldwide organization that works to reduce childhood injuries. Also at the safety fair, sponsors will give away samples of sunscreen, fresh fruit and identification kits that can be used if a child goes missing. Face-painting will also be available for youngsters, and an area dance team will present demonstrations of its routines. Summers said the local Children’s Health clinic hopes to make the safety fair an annual event in Celina.