Town of North Greenbush Holds Largest Public Safety Day in Rensselaer County

By JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER, Senior Correspondent | October 17, 2021 | NEW YORK

Story No. 102621106

Photo by JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by JEFFREY BELSCHWINDER/SIDEWINDER PHOTOGRAPHY

The first annual North Greenbush Public Safety Day was held at the North Greenbush town hall. The event was open to the public and included demonstrations from the New York State Police Aviation Division, New York State Police Special Services Team, New York State Police Dive Team, the Defreestville and Wynantskill Fire Department, North Greenbush Police Department, North Greenbush Ambulance, CDTA, the Rensselaer County Search & Rescue Team, and the Rensselaer County Sheriffs Department.

This event was held for the first time in one location where residence of the town of North Greenbush and surrounding communities could come out and enjoy a great afternoon of fun and educational demonstrations from the fire department and police departments. Normally fire prevention and safety events are held at each of the departments in the town, but everyone decided to come together in one location and hold a town wide event. At the fire department’s booth, children got to try on fire gear, use a fire hose, and climb on up in the back of two of the Town of North Greenbush’s newest fire engines. The sheriffs department was doing child safety IDs and the North Greenbush Police Department was allowing children to climb up inside of the patrol car and learn about all of the cool features inside the vehicle. The children loved to turn on all of the emergency lights and talk over the loud speaker,

The New York State police showed off their special services vehicle, helicopter, and airboat. Families got the opportunity to also put on the helmets and vest from the State Police and tour all of the vehicles. The North Greenbush Ambulance gave out information to parents on CPR and first aid information. Children also got to go up inside of the ambulance and get their picture taken. The public safety day event was a major hit with residence. One family that we talk to stated that “We just moved in to the town last year and seen the event on Facebook. It is absolutely great to see all of the first responders that protect our community we just moved into. We hope we never have to call them, but what we seen today we know we are well protected”

The event organizer is hoping next year the event grows and to have more involvement from other portions of the community.