Saturday turned out to be the perfect day for the annual Community Safety Day at Mauch Chunk Lake Park.

Hundreds of children and their families from around the county attended the event which teaches children about being safe in different situations.The event, organized by state Sen. John Yudichak, Carbon Lodge 242 of Free and Accepted Masons, Carbon County Safe Kids and the Carbon County Commissioners, provided free food, games, face painting and bounce houses and educational activities.Carbon County Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard started the day with his arrival on a Lehigh Valley Health Network MedEvac helicopter.Yudichak praised the first responders in attendance."We really appreciate that you were part of this important day in Carbon County where we try to bring families together around one goal to keep everyone safe," he said.Yudichak also presented a citation from the state Senate to the Carbon Masonic Lodge for their dedication to the county over the last 164 years.Bill Maurer, secretary of Carbon Lodge 242 of Free and Accepted Masons, thanked the senator and said the Masons' sole purpose is to help the community by making it a safer and better place.Gerhard commended the first responders for all they do for the people of Carbon County and urged everyone to support these volunteer organizations.The Nolan Ritchie Foundation presented $500 to Lehighton and Franklin Township departments for their efforts in the rescue attempts of Nolan Ritchie and his grandmother, who both passed away after getting swept away in the Lehigh River in June 2012.Following the opening ceremony, the day was filled with activities from various organizations.Smokey Bear was among the special guests walking around, speaking with the children and posing for photos.During the fair, trooper Shannon Yorke of the Pennsylvania State Police gave demonstrations on proper seat belt safety.Albrightsville Volunteer Fire Company had its new bouncy house where kids could run and bounce around.Mel Zeigler, Safe Kids member, and Gerhard demonstrated the importance of wearing a helmet with the very popular "coconut-crusher," which shows what would happen to a child's head if it is not protected by a helmet.The group had free helmets for the children in attendance.Fourteen area fire departments and emergency personnel were on the scene.The Jim Thorpe Police Department held a fatal vision goggles demonstration, where children put on goggles that mimicked an intoxicated person's vision and then had to walk a straight line.Penn State Master Gardeners educated children about being aware of pesticide and toxic items that look like food products; while the SHINE Afterschool program showed the importance of sun safety by letting the children make solar bracelets.Carbon Animal Response Team showed a model of its newest rescue equipment, the Becker Sling, which helps with large animal rescues. They also spoke about their new pet oxygen mask campaign that is currently underway. The masks cost $75 a set, and once all the money is raised, they will be given to area ambulances.Other participants included Pathstone Head Start, state Rep. Doyle Heffley, St. Luke's Urgent Care Center and Physical Therapy, the Carbon Emergency Response Team, Carbon County Children's Team, Geisinger Health Plan, Carbon County Safe Kids, Pyramid Sports Center, Franklin Klock, Carbon Amateur Ham Radio Operators, PennStar and MedEvac helicopters, and many more.Mindy Graver, chairwoman of Safe Kids and the family living/family resiliency educator for Carbon County's Penn State Extension, said last year 1,000 people attended the four-hour event and this year appeared to be even better attended.She thanked the sponsors who donated money and food, the more than 100 volunteers who came out to help, the senator and his staff and the Masons for working so diligently to make everything come together as planned, and the families for supporting safety day.Children were eligible to enter free drawings, which included nine bicycles, as well as other various prizes.