AUBURN -- Several children, who were gathered around an Auburn fire truck, watched in awe when a Mercy Flight helicopter's rotors kicked up orange and red leaves as it began to take off during Sunday's DARE Community Safety Day at Auburn's Holiday Inn.

Auburn Police Officer Mike Roden, who is the region's second vice president for DARE, said the helicopter was part of an event meant to teach parents and their children about the area's various safety organizations and programs, while getting youngsters signed up for Operation Safe Child identification cards.

"The whole idea is for people to interact with all of the aspects of public safety in the Finger Lakes and the county, and showcase a few other things," Roden said. "Kids get to decorate bags for hospice, parents get to learn about some of the safety programs, and everyone hopefully has fun."

Amariona Temple, 4, could only smile as Donald Kolo, a Mercy Flight paramedic told her about the helicopter and the work he did.

"We are a medevac helicopter, we transport injured people to the hospital," Kolo said. "We are just like the fire department in that some days we go out on five or so calls, and other days nothing happens."

After Amariona toured the helicopter, she walked over to a nearby Auburn Fire Department display where firefighter John Schillace showed her some of the equipment he used, such as hoses and air tanks, in addition to pictures of a firehouse.

But for Amariona's mother, Lucy Vassallo, the event was not only a chance to learn about trucks, helicopters and police officers, it was also an opportunity to enroll Amariona into Operation Safe Child.

"My parents took me to go when I was a child and I thought it would be a great idea for (Amariona)," Vassallo said. "That way if anything where to ever happen to her, the police would be able to use her ID card and be able to find her.

By signing up for the program, which is sponsored by the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office, Vassallo said the authorities had easy access to a recent picture, personal information such as height, weight and age, as well as any markings, piercing or tattoos, which could be used when authorities issue an Amber Alert.

Children also got to watch a safety seat demonstration, which was put on by the New York State Police. Trooper Jon Austin showed children what happens to a person if they fail to fasten their seat belt.

"If you're not wearing a seat belt, you may be ejected from the vehicle and then crushed by it it rolls over you, or you could end being tossed around inside the vehicle, and have your body bent into positions it was never meant to be in," he said. "You may be bruised and cut during an accident, but if you wear the seat belt you are safer during the accident."

Because of the chance to educate both children and parents on safety, Vassallo said she believed the event was a benefit to everyone who attended.

"This event, and the ID cards were a great idea," she said. "I just want to say thank you to everyone who put this on. More parents should have taken advantage of this."