First Responder Night brings families and emergency crews together

Families filled the grounds at Lincoln County High School Friday evening for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Cops 4 Kids First Responder Night, an event that mixed emergency-response demonstrations with food, games and activities for children.

The Aug. 15 event drew approximately 250 attendees, according to Lincoln County Sheriff Derek Foremaster, bringing families together with first responders and public safety agencies from around the area.

The evening included representatives from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Highway Patrol, Lincoln County Fire District and a Classic Air Medical helicopter, along with a visit from Smokey Bear.

The event gave children an opportunity to meet first responders and explore emergency equipment. The biggest crowd gathered at 6 p.m. for the live demonstrations.

Attendees watched as Dathan Lewis volunteered to be Tased, giving the crowd an up-close look at the equipment and its effects. The Sheriff’s Office K-9 teams also demonstrated their skills, with K-9 Bowie apprehending a simulated suspect. Bowie and K-9 Tim also demonstrated drug-detection work around a vehicle.

Children got hands-on experience with members of the Lincoln County Fire District and EMS, who demonstrated the use of a fire hose and gave young attendees an opportunity to experience some of the equipment used to fight fires and save lives.

Classic Air Medical brought one of its medical helicopters to the event, allowing families to get an up-close look at an aircraft used to transport patients during emergencies.

Away from the demonstrations, there was plenty to keep families busy.

A face-painting station remained popular for nearly three hours, with a long line of children waiting their turn throughout much of the evening. A large inflatable slide and inflatable game added to the activities, while Smokey Bear posed for photos and visited with families.

The evening also included a free hot dog dinner provided by LCSO’s Cops 4 Kids, with Undersheriff Darrin Woodworth among those working the grill.

Foremaster said the entire event was funded through Cops 4 Kids fundraisers held throughout the year. He shared, “The community support given to those fundraisers ultimately helped make this First Responder Night possible.”

Following the event, Foremaster thanked the approximately 250 people who attended, those who helped make the fundraisers possible and the agencies that participated in the evening.

“We are grateful to be able to bring this out to our community,” Foremaster said.

The first annual event provided families with an evening of food and entertainment, but it also gave children an opportunity to interact with the men and women behind the emergency vehicles, uniforms and equipment they see throughout Lincoln County.