Fair Helps Children Handle Emergencies

If a disaster strikes, children should know how to call for help, get out of the house and follow instructions from rescue workers, exhibitors at a safety fair said Sunday.

Those precautions were imparted to about 250 children at the Disaster Preparation Fair, sponsored by the Triunfo YMCA and the Agoura Hills Disaster Response Team.

“We are located at the far west end of Los Angeles County and the far east end of Ventura County. When a disaster strikes, we are not going to get a lot of help right away,” said Bruce Bennett, a response team member and event co-coordinator. “The more we do for ourselves, the less the search-and-rescue people will have to do.”

There were plenty of hands-on demonstrations at the event, which was held at Agoura Hills City Hall.

Taylor Frisch, 7, of Oak Park gripped a wrench and turned off a gas meter as a volunteer explained the meter’s function and why it’s important to turn it off in a disaster.

“This fair helps kids to understand what they need to do to help in an emergency,” Wayne Frisch said, watching his daughter struggle with the valve. “Kids are capable of helping; they just have to be aware.”

At other booths, youths dialed a simulated 911 operator who asked them their name, address, telephone and the nature of their emergency. A “Hazard Hamlet” display demonstrated the potential dangers of electricity by emitting a zapping sound each time a kite hit an overhead wire or a child jumped over a fence into an electrical substation to get a ball.

A chiropractor showed children how to perform the Heimlich maneuver, an emergency technique used to dislodge swallowed objects from the windpipe.

Participants also got a close-up look at ham radio equipment, survival gear, fire trucks, Sheriff’s Department cruisers, ambulances, animal-control vehicles, emergency lighting and generators.

“The bottom line is that if we are educated, we won’t be victims, and we can help someone else in trouble,” said Lesley Littner, a response team member.