A real-life emergency happened during a first-responder event in Lafayette County this week.

The Waverly Police Department held the first-ever Santa Fe D.A.R.E. Day event for Santa Fe Elementary School in Waverly.

Police department officials say they had a great time meeting with the kids, answering questions, eating popsicles, and spraying a few with the fire hose. The Waverly Police Department thanked all the agencies which attended and helped make it all possible:
– Higginsville Police Department;
– Lexington Missouri Police Department;
– Missouri State Highway Patrol;
– Lafayette County Prosecutor;
– Carrollton Fire Department;
– Waverly Rural/Fire Department;
– Lexington Fire and Rescue;
– LifeFlight Eagle;
– Santa Fe R-X School District; and
– Lisa Hostetter (for the photos).

There were five police cars with two K-9s; two fire trucks; a smoke trailer simulator; an ambulance; and a life flight helicopter for the event. Each class was able to meet with first responders at different stations, tour the vehicles, and ask questions about what all their jobs entail.

It was a good thing the helicopter was present because during the event, an actual medical emergency occurred in Waverly, which diverted some Waverly Fire Department personnel from the event to the medical call. Once fire personnel were on scene, it was determined that the patient needed to be transported by Life Flight for their injuries. Police officials say, “Luckily, all the needed personnel was either on scene or a very short distance away, resulting in very speedy and efficient transport for the patient.”

Police Department officials add, “With the first D.A.R.E. Day in the books, we are already looking forward to next year. Now it’s time to get the fifth and sixth grades D.A.R.E. certified, which will give them the tools for making safe and responsible decisions.”