GREENFIELD — Suspended from a ladder truck 80 feet in the air, Greenfield Fire Capt. Peter McIver waved to a crowd of young, awestruck faces, hoping to set an example.
“Fire safety is something that is taught across the commonwealth in schools beginning in a preschool setting,” said McIver, whose demonstration simulated an emergency response on the edge of a cliff. “We try to expand on that to … build on those concepts as they get older and understand more of it.”
McIver’s demonstration was one of many featured at the city’s family-oriented Community Safety Day, held Sunday at Greenfield Middle School. The event educated the public on various aspects of emergency response, with attending agencies including the Greenfield Fire Department, local police departments, State Police, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, American Medical Response (AMR), the Northfield Dive Team, the Army National Guard, the Greenfield Health Department and the Greenfield Recreation Department.
“I think it’s important for the community to realize what resources are available and what we as the [Fire] Department train on to be proficient so they can be reassured that if they were in [an emergency] position, we would have the training and abilities to be able to get to them,” McIver said.
Those hosting demonstrations also emphasized the importance of everyday people staying vigilant and having the means to ensure the well-being of themselves and their loved ones. The Kiwanis Club’s Bicycle Rodeo was held to conduct bike safety checks and distribute free helmets. Meanwhile, State Police-certified technicians educated the public about car seat safety for children, and ColBro First Aid & Safety Training LLC shared the basics of performing CPR.
“The more you practice, the more information stays in your filing cabinet,” said Robert Collette, owner and instructor of ColBro.
Collette reasoned that “the more you get people out, the more comfortable they are” when they encounter emergency situations. Montague Police Officer and School Resource Officer Dan Miner, whose comfort dog, Mack, was a favorite among children in attendance, added that events like the Community Safety Day help make kids more comfortable with emergency responders themselves.
“They love Mack,” Miner said, expressing that comfort dogs have had an immense positive impact on how the public views police officers. “It’s great community outreach for the families to come out and meet everyone, especially the first responders.”
Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.