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Arts & Entertainment

Northwestern Safety Fair Puts Children First

Families gathered at Northwestern Grayslake to learn about safety, explore safety vehicles and more at Northwestern's sixth annual Children's Health & Safety Fair May 7.

Safety was the word of the day at Northwestern’s sixth annual Children’s Health & Safety Fair at Northwestern’s Grayslake campus. Over 1,200 people came out to explore the number of safety vehicles on hand, learn more about health in the Teddy Bear Clinic and through additional information stations.

Volunteers from Northwestern Hospital, the Grayslake Police and Fire Departments, Hainesville, Wildwood and other Lake County organizations were on hand to help educate families about safety issues, from bicycle safety to poison prevention.

Robin Flory, a physical therapist at Northwestern Grayslake, enjoyed the event with her children and husband.

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“It’s important for kids to get a handle on healthcare at a young age,” she said about the event’s significance to children. 

Breera Rihman attended with her husband and 2-year-old son Luqmaan Khalique.

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“He’s really enjoying it,” she said as her son sat in the front seat of a Grayslake fire truck.

She also said it was nice that the event was free to the public. “People tend not to go when there’s a fee,” she said.

Alyssa Poli came with her 7-year-old son Lucas and 9-year-old son Dominic and said she appreciated the time volunteers were taking to explain different dangers in ways children could understand.

“It’s been really good. I like that it’s targeted to kids,” she said while looking at the different safety brochures available for parents and children to take home. 

Margo Samp, manager of the Grayslake Campus Emergency Room, said she and others volunteered their time to present safety materials and answer questions.

“The response has been great,” she said about the feedback from attendees.

Terri Clauser, nurse in the emergency room at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, said the event was especially significant to children.

“They’re at a greater risk for injury,” she said.

Kids were also able to practice their 911 skills on a 911 simulator. Jill Blankley with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department guided children through the 911 calling process. She said the device was helpful for children because it tested whether they know basic information that would be asked of them should they ever need to call for help, such as knowing their address and phone number.

“It’s on the kid’s level,” she said.

Cheryle Gara’s daughters Kailey, 7, and Brianna, 4, both tried the simulator. Gara said they came to the event before and returned because of the good information made accessible to kids.

“They see how safety really plays a part in their life,” she said.

During the event characters such as McGruff the Crime Dog, Tigger and Elmo circled the facility and posed for pictures.

Nathan Aaberg, director of development and community relations at Liberty Prairie Conservancy, had various objects for kids to examine under a microscope, including a spider.

“It’s just fun. [The kids] learn about safety and health in a fun way,” as opposed to learning through a lecture or other non-interactive method, he said.

Behind the hospital was a Flight for Life helicopter, which many said was their favorite attraction. Kids could experience sitting in both the pilot and passenger seats.

Grayslake resident Scott Anderson attended with his sons Luke, 6, and Max, 3.

“We love it, especially the helicopter,” he said about the event.

Cathie Lauth and Meda Comniou, nurses from Lake Shore Pediatrics, had hula hoops and a hopscotch mat available for kids to see how they can have fun without relying on modern technology.   

Lauth said the theme of their station was healthy eating and exercise because many kids today are too consumed by video games and computers.

“What happened to the good old fashioned hula hoop?” she asked.

Kids also received a free teddy bear at the Teddy Bear Clinic, where nurses where on hand to help children apply Band-Aids and gauze to their new patients.

Mary Mckeever, a recently retired nurse, said stations were set up in the clinic to show children minor first aide. Using a bear made the information easier for children to grasp, she said: “It shows coming to the E.R. isn’t a frightening thing.”

April Odom said the event was a treat for her three children.

“It’s really neat, doing something for the kids, something educational,” she said while Caeden, 7, and Macenzie, 5, watched as Mckeever showed them how to apply gauze to a teddy bear’s leg.

Northwestern Grayslake is a full-service outpatient center providing care in its Emergency Center, Cancer Center, Surgery Center and through ancillary services including rehabilitative services, diagnostic imaging, women’s imaging, laboratory services, cardiac testing, audiology and speech pathology.

Northwestern Grayslake opened in 2004 and is operated by Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital.

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