Children crowd square for Kids Day of Safety and Play

MEDINA — Maxwell King of Brunswick might have broken a firefighting record Saturday in Medina Public Square. Maxwell, just 19-months-old, may have been the youngest person ever to receive firefighter training in Medina. He learned how douse a blaze with a fire extinguisher. The Medina Fire Explorers youth program provided the lesson. The firefighting instruction was part of the annual Kids Day of Safety & Play, which included games, activities and a book sale by Project: LEARN of Medina County. A fire engine, ambulance and police vehicle lined Broadway Street, and children were invited to sit in and learn about them. Kids Day also featured a magic show, a painting exercise, a physical fitness challenge and a martial arts exhibition. "This event has been phenomenal," said Tom King, Maxwell's dad. "It's great for the kids. All the police officers and firefighters and been friendly and welcoming. "It's good to exposed kids to various public safety programs, tools and equipment," Tom King said. Vuk Simic, 8, of Medina visited the Medina County Sheriff's Mounted Auxiliary and met one of the horses in the unit. "This is a family tradition for us," said Vuk's mom Dragana Simic. "Kids love all the activities and sitting in the police cars." Also, families navigated through the Medina Fire Safety House trailer. Inside, Explorers taught children fire safety and how to escape a house on fire. As nontoxic smoke filled the backroom, the kids crawled through the house and out a window. "The bedroom door has a heater inside that heats the door and doorknob," Medina Fire Chief Larry Walters. "If they grab the doorknob and it's hot, they know not to open the door." Ava Maximovich, 2, of Akron, had a chance to sit in the driver's seat of a fire engine. It was her first Kids Day. "It's nice to see such a big crowd after COVID," Ava's dad, Bruce Maximovich, said. Medina police officer Raven Ory showed kids how to put on padded jackets used in K-9 training drills. The outfit was a little large for Lincoln Alexander, 10, of Medina. "It's cool," Lincoln said of Kids Day. "I like all the police cars, fire trucks and ambulances." Kids Day was presented by Main Street Medina, the city of Medina, Serpentini Chevrolet of Medina, Cleveland Clinic Medina Hospital, Discount Drug Mart, Cleveland Clinic Children's, Sir Troy's Toys, OhioGuidestone, Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio and PlastiPak. Contact Bob Sandrick at areanews@medina-gazette.com.