Community organizations to present interactive preparedness event
3/16/2016
3/16/2016 (La Porte, IN) - A variety of community organizations are coming together to offer a free, highly-interactive preparedness event that will help families in our communities be well-prepared for nearly any emergency situation that could occur in the area. Running with Scissors & Other Things You Shouldn't Do is as much about avoiding danger in the home as being prepared for emergencies.
"As children, we all remember being repeatedly told, "Don't run with scissors!" It stuck in our heads, and that is the purpose of this event: to help repeat and hard-wire some of the things we can do as individuals and families to be well-prepared for the unexpected, and emergencies in general," said Maddie Spoljoric, community engagement specialist at La Porte Hospital, major sponsor of the event.
The community preparedness event takes place from 2-6 p.m., April 12 at the La Porte Civic Auditorium, 1001 Ridge St., La Porte. It is free and open to the public.
The La Porte City Fire Department will be on hand with the EDITH House, which depicts real-life walk-through scenarios of a home fire to help people prepare and understand how to act in that emergency. They will also have a fire truck on hand for tours if available. La Porte County Emergency Medical Services will have an Advanced Life Support Ambulance on hand for touring and to discuss the importance of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) in the community. They will also provide CPR demonstrations and paramedics will be on site to answer questions. In addition, the La Porte County Hazardous Materials Team will educate about how to properly store and dispose of hazardous materials, and what to do in a HazMat emergency. La Porte City Police also will participate.
"The idea is to provide a very hands-on experience for everyone," Spoljoric said.
La Porte Hospital will offer a variety of free health screenings, and doctors, nurses and other hospital staff will be available to answer questions about the importance of immunizations, avoiding texting and driving, cyber safety, how to handle bullying, and more. Nursing students from Purdue University Northwest will provide support for the screenings and education.
The La Porte County Family YMCA will also be on hand to help promote the importance of safe swimming, an initiative that the hospital and the Y recently began addressing with the launch of the Hometown Swim Hero campaign to educate the community about safe swimming and help name the pool at the Y in Michigan City. (For more information about that contest going on now, visit lpymca.org and click on the Events Tab, then Hometown Swim Hero Contest).
Other community partners in the Running with Scissors event include Seymour Sales and Service presenting about safe grilling now that good weather is upon us; and Alick's Home Medical with information about oxygen tank safety and storage.
Giveaways and healthy refreshments will be available.
For more information, call 219.326.2415 or visit IU Health La Porte Hospital on Facebook.
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