Play It Safe Family Safety Day has become one of Warsaw’s largest events and it’s slated to happen again this year on Saturday, Sept. 8.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Warsaw’s Central Park and Center Lake Pavilion, the safety oriented one-day festival is more than just a fun time – it’s an opportunity for children of all ages to learn how to stay safe in a variety of situations. From hands-on learning activities, presentations and games – all offered free of charge – kids can learn about bike safety, farm safety, fire safety, electrical safety, water safety, first aid, and many other areas of health and safety.

The 2012 event marks the fifth year the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory has hosted Play It Safe Family Safety Day, and they will again have the Save-A-Life trailer and hazards obstacle course for kids and adults. The Save-A-Life trailer provides the experience of being in a house fire and is an opportunity to learn how to safely escape.

The day will be filled with demonstrations by local police K-9 units, exercise demonstrations by the YMCA, and even Ronald McDonald is scheduled to make a noon appearance to talk to kids about staying safe.

Children can also take part in the Bicycle Rodeo put on by the Warsaw Police Department. There will be a drawing for bicycle giveaways and more.

Throughout the day, police, fire and EMS vehicles will be on display and both Samaritan and Lutheran Air helicopters will be landing in the park so everyone has an opportunity to see them up close.

New this year to Play It Safe Family Safety Day is Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography motor coach. The coach brings high-quality, life-saving mammography screening to women across northeast Indiana at locations more convenient to their homes or workplaces. The program is a partnership of the Parkview Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Breast Diagnostic Center and Francine’s Friends. Further information can be found at www.francinesfriends.org.

Also slated for Play It Safe Family Safety Day: free Safe Assured ID kits provided by the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club, the American Red Cross Bloodmobile, zip lines and boat rides by the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory and Warsaw Police Department, free Build and Grow activity kits by Lowe’s, free make-and-take First Aid kits, appearances by Sparky the Fire Dog and Daren the D.A.R.E. lion, face painting, and lots of health and safety organization booths, displays and giveaways.

The 2012 event is being sponsored by Kosciusko REMC and made possible with funding from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. Other financial and product donations are being provided by  1-800-BoardUp, Culligan, Kosciusko Community Hospital, Reichert & Knepp, Paragon Medical, Donan Engineering, Medtronic and North Pointe Cinemas.

Anyone wanting to donate blood at the Red Cross Bloodmobile can register online at www.redcrossblood.org, call 1-800-redcross or register the day of the event.