THORSBY — Operation Lifesaver is sponsoring a back-to-school safety event in Richard Wood Park Friday from 1-3 p.m.

Nancy Hudson, executive director for Operation Lifesaver, said there would be several officials on hand including local law enforcement and representatives from the Alabama Department of Transportation.

“We’re doing this to remind everyone about safety on the railroads,” Hudson said.

In the past, Operation Lifesaver has held safety blitzes in Thorsby, Maplesville and Jemison to emphasize safety at railroad crossings, especially in the wake of two fatal crashes resulting in five deaths in February 2007.

This week’s safety blitz falls almost two weeks after a CSX train in Jemison killed a pedestrian trespassing on the railroad tracks. Because of this, Hudson said they are placing an emphasis on pedestrian safety.

“With this happening so recently, we are definitely going to focus on pedestrian trespassing,” Hudson said.

“We want people to know that railroad tracks is private property. The only place you can cross legally cross the tracks are at legal crossings.”

While the event is hosted by Operation Lifesaver, the focus will not exclusively be on railroad safety. Another emphasis that event will focus on is child restraint safety.

“We will have child restraint technicians teaching everyone the proper way to place safety restraints for children,” Hudson said.

“We hope that everyone will come out and Friday afternoon.”

Anyone who is interested is asked to attend.