Smokey Bear will be at GDI’s 5th Annual CIG Insurance Community Safety Saturday™ May 16, 2015

TURLOCK, Calif. - May 9, 2015 - PRLog -- Approximately 95 percent of all wildfires are sparked by the activity of people, which means that almost all wildfires are preventable. Fire agencies need the public’s help to prevent wildfires and Smokey Bear will be at the upcoming CIG Insurance Community Safety Saturday™ to help teach kids important information about fire safety and prevention inside and outside the home. The free safety event will be held at GDI Insurance Agency’s Turlock office at 801 Geer Road, Turlock, CA, 95380, on Saturday, May 16, 2015, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The U.S. Forest Service will provide informational brochures about wildfire prevention, including its One Less Spark program and its Drown, Stir and Feel campfire campaign. According to Charlotte Jordan, from Battalion 53, Sierra National Forest, U.S. Forest Service, "Due to California's record-setting drought, the forests are drier than ever. Vigilance with your campfires is critical for preventing catastrophic wildfires. Our campaign, Drown, Stir and Feel is important to remember every time you dowse your campfire." For more information, read Smokey Bear’s Campfire Safety Guide (http://www.smokeybear.com/resources/SmokeyCampfireSafetyC...).

CIG Insurance Community Safety Saturday was developed by CIG in 2010 and has been held throughout California and Nevada ever since. The event features activities, demonstrations, and educational services designed to improve the safety and security of children, teens, families, and communities. People of all ages will enjoy free games, prizes, and a wealth of materials and information from many different booths staffed by local and regional organizations.

Matthew Davis, Vice President of GDI Insurance Agency, said, “GDI is proud to team up for the 5^th year in a row with Capital Insurance Group to bring CIG Insurance Community Safety Saturday, to Turlock! The event has grown in terms of the number of service providers and by way of community attendance every year, and we are eager to maintain that momentum for the benefit of our community.”

Parents can learn more about child car seat safety and correct child car seat installation at CIG Insurance Community Safety Saturday.

An important feature of Community Safety Saturday will be the complimentary child car-seat safety inspection station coordinated by the Turlock Police Department with trained child car seat inspection technicians. National studies show that 80 to 90 percent of children are not properly restrained when in a vehicle, and about 90 percent of car seats are installed incorrectly. Experts will check for proper installation and give parents and caregivers critical information about installing car seats correctly for their child and particular vehicle.

Every parent has experienced the panic of not knowing where their child is, if only for a minute. Parents should always be prepared with child I.D. information.

The KlaasKids Foundation Print-A-Thon is another important and free service that will be offered at Community Safety Saturday. The Print-A-Thon provides digital photo IDs and fingerprinting for every child. Parents receive a free DNA collection kit, child-safety tips, and a 9-point plan on what to do if their child disappears. KlaasKids is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to stop crimes against children by providing education and knowledge to the general public, and by promoting partnerships with concerned citizens, the private sector, organizations, law enforcement, and legislators. Marc Klaas, whose daughter Polly was abducted and murdered in 1993, advised, “The best way to avoid victimization is through education and knowledge.”

KlaasKids will also present child-safety technology and programs including the Cocoon for KlaasKids, a browser that utilizes the Cloud to protect privacy and provide age-appropriate websites, Polly’s Guardian Angel, a missing-child alert system for iPhone and Android, and information about the KlaasKIDS National Search Center for Missing and Trafficked Children. Klaas remarked, “KlaasKids believes that technology has advanced to the point that certain applications can and do protect children from those wishing to exploit them.”

At the conclusion of Community Safety Saturday, a drawing will be held at which many exciting prizes will be given away, including a Vizio flat screen TV, Bluetooth® headset, an emergency solar flashlight radio, a roadside safety kit, and more.

Jeff Batozech, CIG Regional Field Executive — Northern California, noted, “It is an honor to work with the GDI Insurance Agency team to bring the 5^th Annual CIG Insurance Community Safety Saturday to the community of Turlock. As this community safety event has grown during those 5 years, one thing that has remained constant is the enthusiasm with which Grant and Matt Davis, as well as Lorraine Acevedo proudly showcase the many safety and protection service providers that work to keep our families and communities protected from harm.”