Photograph by Max Morse
Four-year-old Kas Sumaraga chats with a fireman at the Sunnyvale Health and Safety Fair April 27.
Sunnyvale puts its safety first
More than 1,000 locals turn out for third annual Health and Safety Fair
By Jana Seshadri
The overcast skies and occasional drizzle did not deter a crowd of more than 1,000 people from attending Sunnyvale's free Health and Safety Fair on April 27. Sponsored for the third year by the city of Sunnyvale and about 30 local agencies, the event, which was held at the Columbia Neighborhood center, provided opportunities for residents to educate and inform themselves about issues affecting their daily lives.
Anna George, attending the fair for the first time, took her two young children. She said that she found all the information handed out at the fair very useful. Anna's four-year-old son, Anoop, said he enjoyed walking into the library's Bookmobile even though it was "very small."
At the fair, families had access to crucial information about health and safety matters concerning adults and children. A nurse's station, run by student nurses from San Jose State University's School of Nursing, offered blood pressure checks, and El Camino Medical Group had cholesterol screenings. The National Kidney Foundation offered glucose screenings and information on organ donor programs. There were also screenings for vision and hearing. A mobile dental unit from the Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System taught children how to maintain good dental hygiene.
Parents stood in line with their children to take advantage of the child-fingerprinting service offered by Vanished Children's Alliance. The alliance's booth was passing out booklets about safety measures and self-protection to children and parents. After getting fingerprinted, each child received a coloring book with several pages of safety and emergency tips.
"Fingerprints are the only thing that will help identify children," said Randy Kiefer of VCA. "Even identical twins have unique fingerprints."
Kiefer advises parents and family members to keep current photographs of their children. Those photographs most helpful to VCA depict children going about their normal activities in their usual attire, in that children in such photographs are more easily recognized on the street, Kiefer said. Keeping fingerprint records and identification information, including the child's current height and weight, is also very important, according to Kiefer.
Agencies like Planned Parenthood, the American Lung Association, Social Advocates for Youth, the National Kidney Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Clara County and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence also gave away information about their services.
Photograph by Max Morse
Jocelyn, 8, and Christopher Lew, 5, stamp art at the Sunnyvale Family Child Care Network booth of the Health and Safety Fair on April 27.
A raffle drawing was held three times and prizes were distributed to winners who were present. Community businesses and organizations donated raffle prizes. In keeping with the health and safety theme of the fair, some of the raffle items were personal safety kits, earthquake kits, T-shirts, family games and gift certificates.
While parents were getting informed, children were being entertained by a variety of events. "Ravioli the Clown" delighted children with custom-made balloon shapes, and Hometown Buffet's "Bee" and "Banana" posed with children for photographs. Storytelling, police and canine demonstrations and a Dragon Jump provided children with plenty to do during the afternoon.
The major attraction of the day, however, was the BMX bicycle stunt team popularly known as "Perfection on Wheels," which was sponsored by El Camino Medical Group. The nationally acclaimed riders, while skillfully performing hair-raising stunts on their bikes, passed on to their audience messages about bike safety and staying drug-free. After the performance, the riders said they would like youngsters to perceive them as role models and consider healthy and fun options while leading their lives.
The Columbia Middle School Band performed special numbers at the amphitheater. After rehearsing their special selection of songs for weeks, said eighth-grader Jessica Dyer, who plays bassoon, the band was very excited to perform at the fair.
Frances Morales and her two daughters, Beatrice, 7, and Kaitlin, 9, attended the fair for the second year. The event was very informative and fun, in Morales' opinion.
"I like the food best," Beatrice said.
"I was glad to see people from all over the city at the fair," said Lupe Portillo, deputy communications officer for Sunnyvale. "Not just people from the Columbia neighborhood."
In the face of the winter-like weather, the organizers had to make a difficult choice: cancel the event or brave the cold front.
"I'm glad we chose to go ahead with it," said Katherine Chappelear, manager of youth and family services for Sunnyvale.
Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
