Safety Saturday returns for fifth year

Area first responders and other emergency personnel, as well as the equipment they use, will fill part of the Ingles parking lot in Black Mountain from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 19.

The fifth annual Safety Saturday, hosted by Ingles and the town of Black Mountain, will offer the public a chance to find out more about the people who keep the community safe - and how they do it.

More than 30 agencies from around Western North Carolina are participating in this year’s event, according to deputy chief John Wilson of the Black Mountain Fire Department, who organized the event. The event is still growing and adding additional participants every year.

“Safe Kids WNC is doing a station where they’ll check car seats,” Wilson said of what to expect of this year’s Safety Saturday. “Mission Hospital Trauma Services will be doing a ‘stop the bleeding’ training. HealthRidge Pharmacy will also be there doing a training on medication safety for children.”

Buncombe County EMS will also be there, Wilson said, offering a hands-only CPR training and demonstrations. Members of the Emergency Medical Sciences program at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College are also scheduled to be there to talk about that program.

“We have new departments participating this year as well,” Wilson said. “We’ve added Fairview, Reynolds, and Asheville Airport is bringing one of their rescue trucks out too. N.C. Forest Service will be there doing a Firewise presentation also.”

Safety Saturday is free to the public and provides valuable lessons for people of all ages, according to the deputy chief.

“It’s always a good time,” Wilson said. “And it’s a great way to meet the people who keep the community safe and pick up safety tips of your own.”