Erie County 'DPW+EMS' Day May 18

The Erie County Department of Public Works and the Division of Emergency Medical Services in the Department of Health have announced “DPW+EMS Day.”

This free, family-friendly event will give children the chance to sit in and explore public works trucks and emergency service vehicles used by county departments and local towns.

The event is open to the public from noon until 3 p.m. at Ellicott Creek Park in the Town of Tonawanda on Saturday, May 18. For children with special needs or sensitivity to loud noises, there will be an earlier “quiet time” from 11-11:45 a.m.

In addition to the vehicles on display, attendees can participate in family-friendly games, safety demonstrations, and a free car seat safety check by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library will be giving out children’s books, and food trucks will also be on hand for families to purchase lunch or snacks.

“The observances for National Public Works Week and National EMS Week happen to coincide (May 19-25), and this event is a chance for our DPW and EMS employees to demonstrate the tools they use to maintain our infrastructure and respond to emergencies,” said County Executive Mark Poloncarz. “And to make sure all families can participate, we’ve coordinated a special quiet time before the main event for children who need a less distracting experience.”

“The heavy equipment that we use to maintain the county’s roads and infrastructure is not something that kids get to see every day,” said Erie County Commissioner of Public Works Bill Geary. “We’re glad to partner with our friends in EMS to make this a special experience for families, and to hold the event in one of our beautiful county parks.”

“Kids don’t often have the chance to see our equipment, unless it’s passing by them on the road or parked at a scene during an incident,” said Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein. “This is a great opportunity for us to educate children and their parents about how we use our equipment to promote public safety and respond to emergencies.”

National Public Works Week is observed from May 19 to 25 and allows communities an opportunity to celebrate the many impacts that public works have on modern society as well as the contributions that public works professionals make every day to communities across the country. The American Public Works Association has sponsored this week since 1960, and this year’s theme is “It Starts Here.”

National Emergency Medical Services Week also runs from May 19-25. Established by President Gerald Ford in 1974, the annual observance is promoted by the American College of Emergency Physicians. The 2019 theme is “Beyond the Call.”