Indy on Alert: IUPUI public safety day

Choppers, fire trucks, and even a bomb squad robot descended on the IUPUI quad.

It's the third year IUPUI has held Indy on Alert ; a public safety day in action.

Indiana's largest public safety event allows students to ask questions about the various areas within public safety.

"I've never really thought about it, but seeing everyone around it makes me think of how I can do my part," said IUPUI student Josh Morris.

Prospective personnel also got some hands on experience too, like climbing a fire truck ladder, exploring a crime lab, and playing with a bomb squad emergency management robot.

"It's nice to know that there are going to be so many people there no matter what happens. No matter what time of day," said Paloma Vascalante, a student at IUPUI.

Students were also able to climb inside a black hawk helicopter with the National Guard to feel what it would be like to be part of the Medivac team, saving people every day.

"It's pretty awesome. I've never been in a helicopter before. You've got Army, everything here. It's pretty cool," said Morris.

The idea of the event is to give students a positive look at the work of firefighters, police officers, and emergency management personnel.

"It's really important. Most of the students have only had contact with police or firefighters in negative situations. So this gives them an opportunity to show them we don't have horns growing out of our heads. A lot of the students get to make a decision about their careers and that's why we do this," said Jim White, organizer of Indy on Alert.

IUPUI said more than 600 students attended the event.