Open house draws 100 to safety contests

Identi-kits for kids and several exhibits also were part of the event.
By BILL ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- "When You Go Out, Blow Out" was the candle safety slogan for this year's Fire Prevention Day open house, sponsored by the Youngstown Fire Department.
"If the message sticks with just one person and saves someone's property or life, it was worth it," said Lt. Detective Leslie Murphy of the Youngstown Fire Department.
Murphy said some 100 to 120 adults and children attended the event Sunday at the Main Fire Station at 420 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
October is Fire Prevention Month, and Oct. 9 is Fire Prevention Day, said Murphy, a six-year veteran of the force who inspects businesses on the city's North Side for compliance with the Ohio Fire Code.
There were about 100 entries for the poster (grades kindergarten through four) and essay (grades five through 12) contests sponsored by the fire department.
Winning entries
Winners of the poster contest, illustrating the slogan, "If You Go Out, Blow Out," are: JaBraylon Wynn, Eagle Heights Academy, first; LaQuasha Mitchell, Sheridan Elementary School, second; and Marquisk Wilkins, Harding Elementary School, third.
Winners for the essay contest, using the topic, "Why Is Fire Prevention Important To You?" are: Alyssa Rafoth, St. Christine School and Ja'Lyn Russell, Youngstown Community School, tied for first; Marissa Gorvet and Caitlin Yager, both of St. Christine, tied for second; and Michael Basista, Summit Academy and Kevin Stanford, Wilson High School, tied for third.
Other events included a mock rescue of a person from the top of a building by YFD's Tactical Rope Operation Team.
The team does high-angle, swift-water and confined-space rescues, Murphy said.
Services and displays at the open house included Kids Identi-kits and a dive team exhibit provided by the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department; a car seat safety check by Mahoning County Safe Kids; rescue demonstrations; a blood drive by the American Red Cross; and demonstration of an automatic external defibrillator.
Also, YFD equipment and the St. Elizabeth Health Center's mobile intensive-care unit were there for visitors to tour.
The purposes of Fire Prevention Month and Sunday's event are to raise public awareness of fire safety and to let people know what the fire department does, Murphy said.
alcorn@vindy.com