Throughout Family Safety Day in 2024, Warsaw Police Department officers Clay Rieder and Zackery Smith demonstrated their K9s, Red and Odin. Pictured is Smith, left demonstrating how Odin apprehends a suspect, in this case Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Chief Joel Shilling, right. This year, Family Safety Day is 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 13 at Central Park. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — Family Safety Day will be an hour shorter this year than in previous years, but there will still be plenty of activities and information for kids and adults alike.

The 21st free event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 13 at Central Park, 225 E. Fort Wayne St., Warsaw.

Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Chief’s Assistant Heather Vogts explained, “It is an hour shorter, and what we did is we asked the vendors and the community members that came to the event if they would prefer the morning and the vast majority did, so we’re going to try it this year to see how it goes.”

The fire territory added quite a few cool things, she said.

In between the “Jaws of Life” demonstrations by the firefighters, there will be a grease fire session where attendees will learn what happens when water or flour is thrown on a grease fire. Common myths will be debunked.

A drone will be flown with the live footage shown on a television under the fire tent. The fire territory also was able to purchase an underwater remotely operated vehicle for the dive team through a grant and that will be on hand, with footage previously recorded by the ROV played.

“The layout is a little bit different this year,” Vogts said. “So to encourage community members to go to the big green grassy area (by Glover Pavilion) in Central Park, we moved our fire tent over to one of those picnic shelters.”

They’re going to have Tom’s Traveling Coffee — Kona Ice — for people to purchase drinks.

Also on hand will be a water bottle station where the kids can decorate their own water bottle to keep.

“We have a whole bunch of different stickers. Some are fire related, some are daily inspiration stickers and we tried to get things that are current to today’s kids,” Vogts said.

If anyone has any prescription medication they need to properly dispose of, new this year at Family Safety Day will be a prescription medication takeback table where the medicine can be dropped off.

Other than the crowd-favorite Jaws of Life demonstrations, also returning this year will be face painters.

“The kids always love that and it’s always cool to see the kids walk around with their faces all painted,” Vogts said.
There will be a bounce house, as well as all the big emergency services apparatuses for the public to check out upclose – police, ambulance and fire. At least one ambulance helicopter is scheduled to land on site.

The Gummy Worm surgery station by Lutheran Health Network will be back inside the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion.

“So, just kind of an all-around variety that will help keep the kids engaged and give the parents direct access to community resources,” Vogts said.

Over 30 community resources and vendors will be on hand between inside the pavilion and out in the park.

Inside the CARES Resource Tent will be representatives of mental health and abuse agencies with information. Along with The Gummy Worm surgery station inside the pavilion will be different resources such as the Warsaw Community Public Library, Walmart Vision Center, Warsaw Chiropractic and more.

“So there’s just a huge, huge variety of resources available,” Vogts said.

As always, Family Safety Day will have its bicycle draws.

“You can enter to win a free bike. We’ll have the bikes actually on display in front of the pavilion the day of the event, and you’ll just fill out a little card that has your contact information on it – and that’s the only reason we ask for the contact information. And then the Monday after the event, Sept. 15, pending nothing crazy happens, we’ll do the drawings for each bike. There will be a boy and girl bike for each size of bike,” she said, estimating that about 10-12 bicycles will be given.

A helmet will be given with each bicycle.

Kasey the Fire Dog is sponsored by Koorsen Fire & Security. Vogts said Kasey was unable to be at the 2024 event, but they are excited Kasey will be back this year.

“I think the live animal shows are always a huge draw for families,” she said.

Kosciusko REMC will have its Live Voltage demonstration, showcasing how electricity works and being safe around power lines.

Sponsors help make Family Safety Day possible, and there are three levels of sponsorships this year – Chief, Captain and Lieutenant levels.

Chief sponsors, who have donated $1,000 or more, for 2025 are the Dr. Dane and Mary Louise Miller Foundation, Kosciusko REMC, Creighton Brothers LLC, Lutheran Health Network and News Now!

Captain sponsors are Crouse Body Shop, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, American Red Cross, Indiana American Water, Family Express, Hoosier Fire Equipment and Warsaw Professional Fire Fighters Local 5461.

Lieutenant sponsors are Winona IT LLC, Koorsen Fire & Security, Monteith Tire and Warsaw Chiropractic.

For more information, visit the Family Safety Day Facebook page, city of Warsaw website or call the fire department. If it just rains, the event will continue. If severe weather becomes a possibility, people should check out the Facebook page for any updates or changes.

“The biggest thing that I hope people know is it’s a free event, minus the coffee, they would have to purchase that. But, it’s a totally free event for the family and it gives them access to resources in one place. It’s like a one-stop hub for resources, and they can help them navigate the application process for anything and hopefully fast-track their needs for services,” Vogts said.

She thanked the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department for allowing the use of their facilities for the day of the event.

“I know it takes a lot of work and preparation for them, and even afterwards, so we’re very grateful for them,” Vogts stated.