Free Safety, Wellness Fair Comes To Westlake

From the City of Westlake: The City of Westlake and University Hospitals St. John Medical Center (UH SJMC) will host the third annual Community Safety and Wellness Fair on Saturday, May 19, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Westlake Recreation Center, 28955 Hilliard Boulevard. The event is free and open to the public.

“This is an opportunity for people of all ages to come together and learn ways to live a safer and healthier lifestyle,” said Mayor Dennis M. Clough, confident this will be a fun event for the entire family. “Safety doesn’t happen by accident.”

“UH St. John Medical Center cares deeply about the health of our community,” said Rob David, President of UH St. John Medical Center. “Our health and safety day is an example of the great partnership we have with the community we are privileged to serve.”

To help families get started on a healthier lifestyle, this year’s event includes free bicycle helmets made possible by First National Bank and free family first aid kits provided by University Hospitals, both while supplies last.

“At First National Bank, we are always looking for ways to enhance the communities where we live and work, and that includes providing for the wellbeing of our neighbors,” said John Sikora, Branch Manager of FNB’s Westlake Office. “We are proud to serve as the Bicycle Helmet Sponsor for the Community Safety and Wellness Fair, joining the City of Westlake and UH SJMC in their effort to create safer and healthier neighborhoods.”

Also new is the opportunity to help others in the community by participating in the LifeShare Blood Drive or donating 2 non-perishable, unexpired food items to the Westlake Food Pantry operated by the City’s Community Services Department. Donors to the Food Pantry will receive a “Community Health and Safety Fair Spring into Health” t-shirt (while supplies last) sponsored by the State Farm offices of Nate Courtney and Jordanne Birch.

An Honor Guard featuring active service members, law enforcement, and veterans will present the flag at 10:15 a.m. in observance of Armed Forces Day.

The fair’s schedule, Touch-a-Truck photos, children’s activities, lists of health and cancer screenings, live demonstrations, and exhibitors (subject to change), and other details can be found here.

Fair Highlights

More than 70 exhibitors will be on hand to provide safety and wellness information. UH SJMC Community Outreach Nurses and other health professionals will conduct health and cancer screenings and answer questions raised by the giant inflatables (colon, brain and heart). New this year are “Ask a Doc” information tables, the ICAC undercover unit (Internet Crimes against Children special task force), Westshore CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), free chair massages by Massage Heights, and plant a vegetable seed with a dietician, a heart-healthy activity.

Twenty-two vehicles and equipment will be on display in Touch-a-Truck, including a Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle and the Metroparks Nature Tracks learning lab. The UH SJMC helicopter is scheduled to land at noon, weather permitting.

Live demonstrations include CPR (hands only), UH EMS “Stop the Bleed” (tourniquet application), gymnastics by Ten Point O, Andy the talking LifeCare Ambulance, working and service dogs, fire extinguisher use, distracted driving and binge drinking simulations, and putting with Sandy Davis, Golf Pro from Meadowood Golf Course. The Cleveland Brown's Chomps and Westlake PD’s Safety Pup will greet children of all ages.

Weber’s Premium Custard & Ice Cream is returning to offer old-fashioned ice cream. Kiedrowski’s Bakery will bring their popular Snoogles.

Children Learn to Stay Safe and Be Healthy

Families will find many opportunities to engage even young children at the fair in healthy living habits while having lots of fun. In addition to bicycle helmet distribution, Touch-a-Truck, dogs who are trained for different roles and visiting with Cleveland Browns’ Chomps and Westlake’s Safety Pup mentioned above, they can give teddy bears wellness and health check-ups at Teddy Bear First Aid Clinic, dress up like a firefighter, learn about germs and receive balloon animals and characters DJ Eazy will provide the musical entertainment and get them dancing. The inflatable bounce house and slide will keep them moving. Westlake Police Department will also do child safety fingerprinting.

Pictures courtesy of the City of Westlake: 2017 Fair

(Image 1) Possible future service department driver

(Image 2) Impairment simulation

(Image 3) Exploring the UH helicopter

(Image 4) Health and cancer screenings