NORWICH – With the annual Chenango County Fair in full swing, safety personnel have all hands on deck to keep fairgoers safe during one of the busiest weeks in the City of Norwich.

Dozens of volunteers are putting in time this week to ensure that all who attend this year’s fair have a good time and stay safe. At the newly constructed EMS center on the north end of the fairgrounds, two air conditioned patient rooms are fully stocked with medical supplies to treat minor injuries, and bottles of water available for those long hot visits.

“Our call volume can range from nothing to having as many as ten calls back to back,” said fairground EMS coordinator Jim Fowlston. “We can never tell what’s going to happen, so we have to be ready to go at a moment’s notice.”

Each year, volunteers from all over the county help staff the EMS center at the fairgrounds. Fowlston said more than 15 people from different departments have stepped up to volunteer this year, giving the EMS Center the helping hands needed to make sure the fair goes off without a hitch.

“We just don’t have enough volunteers in Norwich to man the whole thing, so we’re incredibly appreciative of other departments that are willing to help out,” said Fowlston.

When it comes to fairgoers taking charge of their own safety, Fowlston recommended that people stay hydrated, be alert, carry minor first-aid supplies, and know the day’s weather report.