Trending
LEWISTOWN -- First responders are a precious commodity in the Juniata Valley, which has proven to be in short supply at times.
If participation in an adult program offered at the Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology is any indication of the future, that trend might be turning around.
"Last year, our class was considerably smaller, with only five students participating," said Trish Forshey, the emergency medical services coordinator at the Academy.
"Compared to this year's class where we had 21 students who were outfitted in rescue gear and participated in the day," she added. "They learned simple extrication of patients from vehicles where no tools were required with some of the instructors acting as patients. Then once they had that exposure, the experts arrived on scene and demonstrated the tools of their trade."
March 16 marked the second time the EMT class offered a Vehicle Rescue Lab experience to the Academy students at Tim Parson's tow yard in Lewistown. Instructors Abygale Abrashoff and Shawn Peters coordinated the participation of Junction and Chief Logan fire departments, FAME EMS and the use of Parson's Towing and Rollback Service to make this event such a realistic and successful simulation.
"The responders from these two fire departments were beyond informative and professional," Forshey explained. "They gave the students an overview of the tools that each apparatus carries and how this helps them perform their jobs.
"Mr. Parson had 10 vehicles that he offered up for us to work through, each requiring different degrees of extrication," she added.
While some live patients were used in these simulations, the class was also fortunate to have human-weight mannequins, which were on loan from both the Mifflin and Juniata county 911 centers.
"The students learned to work together and also to collaborate with rescue personnel to achieve the common goal of patient extrication while keeping the safety of all crew members paramount," Forshey said.
The authenticity of the simulation was the main reason why the class began this lab experience last year.
"Have you ever been in a vehicle that is actively being cut apart? Having glass broken around you?" Forshey asked. "Even as the first responder on the inside, if you are not accustomed to this, it can be quite overwhelming, and even a bit terrifying.
"How can you, as the EMT inside the vehicle caring for an injured patient, reassure them if you yourself have no idea what is happening around you?" she added.
Many of the students who enter the EMT program do so without any previous experience with fire or rescue services, so this simulation proved to be a very new experience for them. With someone's life hanging in the balance, it could be beneficial in the future when that decision-making becomes a matter of life or death.
"Learning what to expect in a somewhat controlled environment will hopefully prepare them for that first motor vehicle accident where they have to be that calm voice that can reassure a patient who is set adrift in a sea of noise and what feels like chaos," Forshey said. "I'd like to think that the day was just as beneficial for the fire services that participated with the full day of training where the seasoned members can mentor their own juniors."
Forshey believes all of the students gained valuable experience from participating in the lab setting. It was a full six hours of work, followed by an examination back at the school.
"Mr. Parson was a gracious host as always and provided us and the fire companies with lunch," Forshey said. "It was an absolute pleasure to work with all of these folks again this year, and we only hope the program continues to grow and renew the spark of interest in emergency services."
Forshey said this cohort was a hybrid program - with 80 percent of the course offered online. This particular course is in its final stretch and students will be taking their final exam over the next few weeks.
The Emergency Medical Technician class is just one of the adult programs offered at the Academy. Typically, the course begins each January.
Students completing this program exit with National Registry EMT certification, EMSVO driving certification, Hazmat Awareness, AHA BLS CPR certification and are employable as entry level EMTs.
For more information, contact Forshey at plf04@mcsdk12.org or visit www.theacademy.net.