FORT RILEY, Kan. " The Garrison Safety Office hosted a postwide safety day with more than 16 booths and demonstrations May 26 at Riley’s Conference Center to wrap up safety week on post.

Between May 24 and 25 directorates and units conducted their own safety training and briefings before the postwide event.

Safety day was set for the week before Memorial Day to help Families, civilians and Soldiers understand how to stay safe while enjoying a day on the lake, a road trip or grilling in their own backyard.

Among the attractions, the Fort Riley Fire Department, along with the Army Substance Abuse Program and actors from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan., demonstrated the steps emergency officials take when extracting victims from a car wreck.

Using the Jaws of Life, the fire department extracted two dummies from the wrecked vehicle in front of a large audience.

Spc. Dominique Moore, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, watched the scene unfold and said seeing it in person made the scenario seem more real.

“I’ve never seen the Jaws of Life used before, and this type of demonstration could help more people be careful,” he said.

Pfc. Ashley Smith, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, CAB, 1st Inf. Div., said watching the situation made her sad and emotional.

“I hope that people who saw this demonstration today know that drinking and driving is not a joke,” Smith said.

The safety day was important, she said, because it offered something for everybody on activities they may be interested in.

“It’s important to take extra precaution now that we are back from deployment because we really haven’t had the chance to be on the roads,” she said.

Dawn Douglas, Safety and Occupational Health specialist, Garrison Safety Office, helped Sgt. Shawn Skwiat, 601st Aviation Support Battalion, CAB, 1st Inf. Div., steer his way through a computerized course at the motorcycle safety booth.

The Safe Motorcyclist Awareness and Recognition Trainer aims to give users a real-life experience of operating a motorcycle and grades them upon completion of navigating the four-minute course, Douglas said.

“Some people don’t cross at the cross walk, and it’s important to maintain that situational awareness while operating a motorcycle,” she said.

The safety day was meant for Soldiers, Family members, civilians and the entire community, Douglas said.

“We are helping fit cars with children’s car seats, giving away bicycle helmets and making sure people know how to remain safe while enjoying summer activities,” she said.