Family Safety Fair Coming to Downers Grove

Submitted by the Illinois Tollway.

The Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police District 15 will host the 8th Annual Family Safety Fair on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Tollway’s headquarters in Downers Grove.

The free event brings fun and safety together, with family friendly activities and the opportunity for free kids’ identification cards and child safety seat inspections and installations to help keep children safe and parents, grandparents and caregivers worry-free – every trip, every time.

The Family Safety Fair coincides with Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 13-19) and National Seat Check Saturday, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration campaign to remind everyone of the lifesaving effect child safety seats have in protecting children from birth through age 12. The campaign encourages parents to determine if they have their young children in the right car seats and learn how to install and use car seats correctly.

The event, which takes place at 2700 Ogden Avenue in Downers Grove, wraps up the 2015 Kids Identification and Safety Seat (K.I.S.S.) program offered by the Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police District 15.

So far this year, District 15 has inspected more than 120 child safety seats and issued more than 230 child IDs to help keep kids safe.

Highlights of the Family Safety Fair include:

• Child safety seat inspections and installations and free identification cards for children ages 3 and older
• Illinois State Police District 15 demonstrating how its K-9 unit assists troopers, as well as showing the importance of wearing seat belts with its Roll 15 rollover simulator and the Convincer crash simulator
• Drive for Life hands-on, behind-the-wheel experience that demonstrates the dangers of drinking and driving
• Touch-a-truck display featuring hands-on exploration of roadway and emergency vehicles, including a Tollway H.E.L.P. truck, a 26-ton snowplow, Illinois State Police squad cars, motorcycles and a SWAT tactical response truck, Air Methods LIFESTAR 1 CHICAGO helicopter, a Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District fire truck and ambulance and a Pace express bus from the Rapid Transit Network
• DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management public education vehicle featuring interactive demonstrations on emergency preparedness
• The Jesse White Tumbling Team performing acrobatic feats to entertain all ages
• Inflatable bounce house, face painters and balloon twister for kids

For the full schedule of events, please click on the Family Safety Fair banner on the Illinois Tollway’s website, illinoistollway.com.