While the organizers and agencies of Carbon County Safety Day were wary of a downpour during Saturday's event, everything went off without a hitch, with hundreds of children learning some important lessons about staying safe every day.

"This is our ninth annual community Safety Day," organizer Mindy Graver said. "We decided that we needed to educate the families of Carbon County and the surrounding areas on the various safety issues that children face every day. Some of the issues that we talk about include bicycle helmet safety, fire safety and water safety. It's a wonderful experience for the families to come and learn, but also have fun while they're doing it."The event was originally held on Fifth Street in Jim Thorpe, but ballooned to such a size that the organizers needed to move to Mauch Chunk Lake to accommodate everyone.Even with a bit of a chill in the air, hundreds of families turned out to explore the nearly 30 lakeside displays offering practical safety tips for everyday life."We have the fire departments here, we have Jim Thorpe Police, numerous vendors promoting childhood safety," Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard said. "You can get a free helmet here today, and Commissioner Nothstein's actually doing the Coconut Crusher. It's all about not only childhood safety, but promoting safety for adults as well. ... There's a lot of great vendors here, a lot of information, and a lot of very, very great people."Mahoning Valley fire department's fire extinguisher demonstration activity drew plenty of attention from the kids. Participants were coached by firefighters in the correct approach to extinguisher use, and shown how to direct the spray to put out the simulated flames on the screen."We don't recommend kids using them right off the bat. Give us a call first, call 911, and get out of the house," firefighter Neal Ebbert said. "But, if the fire is small enough, it gives them the opportunity to use the extinguisher. With a little bit of help, they've all been able to put out the fire pretty quick."Carbon Animal Response Team's provided information on their organization's mission, and how they help animals in peril."We go out for animals from the size of a gerbil to the size of a horse," Michele Beckett explained to children and parents. "When we go to fires, we actually help the fire companies administer oxygen to your pets. It helps them so that they can keep working with you, while we work with the animals."Beckett provided a demonstration of an animal rescue with a stuffed lamb attached to a backboard, which the kids were allowed to drag, simulating the rescue of the lamb from an emergency situation.A special appearance by a MedEvac helicopter drew plenty of excited kids and adults to the lawn near the parking lot, and kids got the chance to hop inside for a photo opportunity."We've been coming for the past three years. They loved the helicopter, they like the free helmets every year," Samantha Roman, who brought her daughters Rylee, 7, and Rachel, 4."I liked the inside of the helicopter," Rylee Roman said.Bicycle SafetyCommissioner Wayne Nothstein captured the crowd's attention with the Coconut Crusher, provided by the Carbon Lodge No. 242 Free & Accepted Masons. After a quick speech on the subject of bicycle helmets, Nothstein would place a helmet over a coconut in a small chamber with a plastic screen. Following an exciting countdown, Nothstein would drop a weight through a piece of pipe, smacking into the protected coconut with some force.Once the demonstration was over, Nothstein and the crew distributed free helmets to each child at the demonstration. The Coconut Crusher lesson certainly hit a chord with the kids, who all pledged to wear a helmet to protect their heads."You should wear a helmet, or else you can get blood on your brain, and you won't know your name or your birth date," Skyler Moyer, 9, said.And after the kids learned all about helmet safety, what better way to put the lesson into practice than with a brand-new bike? Various donors contributed to one of the highlights of the day for many children in attendance: a giveaway of about 20 bicycles.