Willow health, fire and safety day aims to educate

WILLOW -- Do you know what to do if you see someone clutch his chest and fall over? What would happen if someone broke her leg on a long hike or fell into a river without a life vest? People in the Mat-Su Borough face these situations every year, and every year, many are unprepared.

On Saturday, the Mat-Su Borough is sponsoring a communitywide Health, Fire & Safety Interactive Educational Festival. The event aims to equip Mat-Su Borough residents with the information, phone numbers and skills to deal with unforeseen and unexpected emergencies and health issues.

From minor back pain to Alzheimer's disease to water safety and more, the festival will cover a wide array of issues.

The Alaska Health Fair Inc. will provide screening for prostate disease and thyroid disorders. The Mat-Su Borough's booth will provide dive rescue and water safety information, another booth will focus on helmet safety and Blood Bank of Alaska and other organizations will be manning booths as well.

"This is an opportunity for agencies to showcase what they have and for people to see what kinds of services are available in the borough," said Robin Ann Hiebert, festival coordinator.

Food and door prizes will also be part of the one-day event. Teachers are encouraged to bring students out for a field trip and each participating student will receive a passport when they arrive at the festival. Students complete their passports by receiving a minimum of three booth verifications and reporting in their passport five things they learned. The students then turn passports in to their teachers.

The free event is also a fund-raiser for the Community Enrichment Program -- formerly known as Community Schools. Proceeds from the event will help fund various classes and programs for Valley residents.

"Community schools program was discontinued for a few years and this is a way to raise awareness of the new Community Enrichment Program," Hiebert said. "The enrichment program is an opportunity to get out in the winter and learn something."

The festival events run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 25, at the Willow Community Center. For more information, people may call 495-6421.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.