The Warren County Board of Developmental Disabilities expanded its annual Safety Night on Saturday, August 1, adding a session for elementary-aged children alongside its established program for adults with developmental disabilities.

The fourth annual event featured hands-on Narcan demonstrations, warnings about counterfeit pills and a new push to get Blue Envelope Program safety cards into participants' hands, according to the WCBDD. Five partner organizations led age-appropriate sessions covering substance awareness, road safety, healthy relationships and peer pressure.

During a presentation by Devvastated, which focused on medication safety, attendees watched a visual demonstration showing how difficult it is to tell a real pill from a counterfeit one. The presenter then walked participants through proper Narcan administration. Some attendees and the presenter shared stories of losing loved ones to illicit pills.

Talbert House covered alcohol's physical and mental effects and gave children tools to handle peer pressure. The Warren County Health Department warned that cannabis-infused edibles can look identical to ordinary chocolate bars and gummies.

Roy Lutz of Safe on Main led a discussion on healthy relationships, consent, and the dangers of artificial intelligence in online interactions. Warren County Safe Communities closed the presentations with bicycle safety and defensive driving, ending with participants pledging to make this the "100 Safest Days of Summer."

Blue Envelope Program

Cheri Cummings, the WCBDD's community employment coordinator and Safety Night facilitator, staffed a booth where attendees filled out Blue Envelope Program safety cards. The cards give first responders vital medical information about an individual's disability during a crisis, helping ensure safe interactions.

The Blue Envelope Program launched in Mason in March after a presentation at the Mason City Council meeting on March 9. Drivers store their license, registration, and insurance in a blue envelope and hand it to an officer during a traffic stop, signaling they may need additional time or a different communication approach.

"The purpose of the program is to help reduce that anxiety and help bridge that communication gap that may occur during a traffic stop or other stressful events," Mason Police Lt. Steve Temple said in March when the program was introduced to council.

Blue envelopes are available at the Mason Police Department (6000 Mason-Montgomery Road), Fire Station 51 (4420 Mason-Montgomery Road), Fire Station 52 (5500 Cedar Village Drive), the Mason Community Center (6050 Mason-Montgomery Road), and the WCBDD Warren C. Young Center (801 Drake Road, Lebanon).

Residents can contact Lt. Temple at (513) 229-8500 or [email protected] for more information about the program.