Safety Town teaches children about first responders in Lakewood Ranch

By Liz Ramos
| 12:00 p.m. October 8, 2023

Although Lakewood Ranch 8-year-old Kenny Van Slyck, 3-year-old Carmela Van Slyck, 5-year-old Angelina Van Slyck and 6-year-old Vincent Van Slyck love seeing the first responder vehicles, they also love the free snacks.

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Lt. Steve Ryckman with East Manatee Fire Rescue helped Lakewood Ranch's Avery Cruz put on a self-contained breathing apparatus.

"Do you think you can wear that for an hour?" Ryckman asked Cruz.

"No," said the 10-year-old Cruz, who slouched over from the weight of the apparatus.

Ryckman went on to show Cruz and his 3-year-old brother, Grayson Cruz, other features of the East Manatee Fire Rescue firetruck.

The firetruck was one of several emergency service and first responder vehicles sitting outside Lakewood Ranch Town Hall Oct. 7 for Safety Town.

Safety Town gave children an opportunity to meet first responders and learn about the services they provide for the community.

Lakewood Ranch's Nicole and Bill Schorn said their sons, 5-year-old Liam and 3-year-old Landon, loved the firefighter hats and whistles they received before getting to sit in the driver's seat of the firetruck.

Nicole Schorn said it's important to introduce children to first responders.

"Exposing the kids to it will get them excited and more interested in learning about safety," she said.

Lakewood Ranch 3-year-old Grayson Cruz sees what it's like driving an East Manatee Fire Rescue truck.

East Manatee Fire Rescue Lt. Steve Ryckman helps Lakewood Ranch 10-year-old Avery Cruz try on a self contained breathing apparatus in 2023.

East Manatee Fire Rescue firefighter Jason Burnside shows Lakewood Ranch 8-year-old Ryan Martin and his grandmother Joyce Harpring how they use the jaws of life.

Tom Kaczmarek, a deputy for the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, is ready to teach children about what the Sheriff's Office does for the community.

Lakewood Ranch 4-year-old Dunham Brishke and 3-year-old Foster Brishke check out various first responder vehicles. "They're loving the brush truck and the fire truck," says Hayes Brishke, the boys' mother.

Lakewood Ranch's Bill and Nicole Schorn spend time introducing their sons to the various emergency services and first responders at Safety Town.

Lakewood Ranch's Patricia Swiatek and her husband, Robert Swiatek, represent Nate's Honor Animal Rescue with their dog, Graham, at Safety Town, which is organized by Summerfield's Laurie Fox.

Parrish 2-year-old Zander Vinopal checks out an East Manatee Fire Rescue firetruck with his mother, Meghan Vinopal, 3-year-old sister, Raevin Vinopal, and father, Vinnie Vinpoal.

Local emergency service and first responder vehicles are the highlight of Safety Town.

East County's Nikita Poposki sees what he would look like if he were wearing a Manatee County Sheriff's Office bomb suit.

Bradenton 4-year-old Joshua Darby and 8-year-old Zachary Darby learn about the Manatee County Sheriff's Office from Deputy Tom Kaczmarek.

author

Liz Ramos

Managing Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.