There was food, fun things to do and a lot of giveaways at the 11th annual Carbon County Community Safety Day on Saturday. The priority, though, was safety education.

The event was held at Mauch Chunk Lake Park, and despite mostly cloudy skies, organizers were very happy with the turnout of vendors and people.

Ken Schlecht, who has helped with Safety Day since its inception, estimated that about 1,000 people attended.

Schlecht said the Community Safety Day was originally a project of Carbon County Masonic Lodge 242, of which he is a member. It was held on a street in East Jim Thorpe but moved to Mauch Chunk Lake Park some years ago because it continued to grow.

Schlecht said state Sen. John Yudichak got involved and partnered with St. Luke’s University Health Center as the sponsor and coordinator. Also a sponsor is the Carbon County Board of Commissioners.

Eric Johnston, also a Mason, said everything at Safety Day including the food and drinks is free.

“There’s nothing you can buy here,” he said.

He said political leaders attend but no politicking is permitted.

“We have free hot dogs, chips, banana, orange drinks and other foods,” he said.

Each youngster who arrives is fitted with an arm band and given a ticket. That ticket is used as a chance on 22 bicycles that were given away. The setup was similar to a Chinese auction in which the youngster picked the bike he would like — which ranged from a tricycle to a Mountain Bike — and placed the ticket in the respective container.

The bikes were donated by the Masonic Lodge, Jim Thorpe’s Tour de Shore bicycle club and Walmart.

Every child was also fitted with and given a free bicycle helmet. Yudichak and St. Luke’s personnel fitted the helmets.

There were plenty of activities for the children.

Albrightsville Fire Department brought its Safety Truck which depicts a residence with emergency scenarios such as it filling up with simulated smoke. Children go through the structure and exit via a ladder at the rear of the building.

Many children, including 6-year-old Samantha Geisinger, went through the Safety Trailer several times.

“It’s fun,” she said to her mother.

Other fire departments which participated were Nesquehoning and Jim Thorpe. Members of the Lehighton Ambulance Association talked to parents and children about various health topics, including CPR.

Yudichak praised the various businesses, organizations and political entities which sponsored Safety Day, adding, “The main thing the children hear is how to be safe. That’s what Safety Day is all about.”

Other participants in the opening ceremonies were state Rep. Doyle Heffley and Carbon County Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard.

“As a commissioner, I’m proud to be one of the sponsors,” he said.

Gerhard said “educating the public” about safety is the main purpose.

He said poison control is one of the topics covered at the event.

“Look at a bottle of Gatorade and a bottle of Windex. They’re the same color,” he said.

Gerhard said besides emphasizing safety, the event also give the county an opportunity to “show our facility (Mauch Chunk Lake Park) which is one of the jewels of Carbon County that we’re really proud of.”

One of the items which gathered a lot of interest was a coconut crusher, a device which depicts the importance of wearing bicycle helmets.

The Lehighton barracks of the state police had a motorcycle at the scene as well as a display of child car safety seats. They gave tips on the proper method of using the seats.

Numerous other organizations also were present, handing out literature, canvas bags, pencils and all sorts of free stuff.

Everything, though, was safety related.