County Sponsors Free Public Safety Expo

Bergen County will sponsor the 2010 Public Safety Expo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Bergen County Law & Public Safety Institute, 281 Campgaw Road, Mahwah.

There will be live fire demonstrations, tactical law enforcement and emergency response drills and fun-filled activities for the entire family. Featured at the Expo will be the Bergen County Office of Highway Safety, which will sponsor a child passenger safety seat checkpoint. There will be demonstrations by the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter rescue, the Bergen County SWAT team, the Bergen County Police and Sheriff's Department's K-9 teams, the Bergen County Bomb Squad, EMT rescues and CPR demonstrations. 

The Mobile Fire Safety House will be available for children to learn escape planning and how to use 9-1-1.

Expo guests will include Otto the Auto, McGruff the Crime Fighting Dog and Sparky the Fire Dog. Firefighting professionals will be on hand to demonstrate techniques to protect homes and businesses. 

Tours will be available at the Life Safety Complex, which is located on the grounds of the Institute. The three-story, 19,000-square-foot facility boasts 19 different occupancies for hands-on practical training in fire evacuation. With artificial smoke and seven propane fire simulators operated by a sophisticated and computerized control center, various types of emergencies will be safely demonstrated, with adults and children helping to put out fires.

The Expo is free and open to all.