Area youth learn safety lessons
by David Jennings
06.15.10 - 03:10 pm
The first moments after a disaster are the most crucial. According to the situation, it could be minutes before emergency assistance arrives on the scene. That is why it is important to be prepared for the worst. That was the lesson 43 area youth learned last week as they attended the first Youth Preparedness Camp. “Our Youth Preparedness Camp is an innovative and unique program that promotes citizen preparedness and participation to you in Calhoun County using multiple approaches to learning,” said Marissa Brimer from the Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency. Students, ranging from 8 to 18-years-old, learned lessons in a multitude of emergency situations. “The curriculum includes subjects like emergency preparedness, developing an emergency kit, fire safety, introduction to survival and first aid, emergency medical triage, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, terrorism awareness and creating a family disaster plan,” said Brimer. The camp was held at Jacksonville’s Community Center and was conducted by the Calhoun County Citizen Corps Council. Many residents of Jacksonville helped teach classes during the week. Randy Childs from Jacksonville’s Fire Department taught the youth search and rescue skills and Denise Rucker from Retired Senior Volunteer Program led the disaster psychology class. According to Brimer, students of the camp were not only asked to learn the skills, but to take them back home and teach their friends and family about emergency preparedness. Autumn Shivers, 9, explained what she learned in her triage class.
“It’s where you sort (victims), there are categories: delayed, walking wounded, dead and immediately,” said Shivers. “I think it is important, because some people may be hurt when you don’t expect it, because there maybe like an airplane crash somewhere and then you may have to sort some people out.” By knowing who needs what kind of help, trained individuals can help inform emergency services of the status of the situation when they arrive.
Pleasant Valley’s JJ Turner, 15, said he hopes to put his learning to use one day helping others.
“I learned how to classify people during a triage, how to put out fires with a fire extinguisher and how to use the buddy system,” said Turner. Morgan Schaffer, 8, said she enjoyed learning to put out fires and will teach her baby sister the safety lessons she learned when she gets older.
Michael Leavitt, 16, said he, too, wants to share what he learned to his family and community.
“I think it is something people definitely need to know,” said Leavitt. “You can really never be too prepared.” Rashad Gamble, 14, said he enjoyed getting to use a fire extinguisher to put out actual flames started by the fire department. “It was pretty hot and intense,” said Gamble.
Alex Shivers, 8, said animal class with Susie the Poodle was her favorite class. “I learned a lot of stuff about animals,” said Shivers. “If you get bit by a dog, you still have to go to the doctor because it could have a disease or something.” To end the week, emergency officials staged a mock disaster, allowing the youth to put their newfound skills in action.
“The youth performed victim search and rescue alongside professional responders in a realistic setting,” said Brimer. Older youth helped dummy victims escape from fallen debris while younger kids helped with first aid and triage. With teamwork and remembering what they learned, the youth got though the mock disaster with flying colors. They were then treated to a graduation ceremony where they were individually recognized and received commendation from local officials and Sydney Hoffman, Director of the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. “They did an excellent job learning and they are fixing to show you they can man-up for their communities and households,” said Civil Defense Commander Harold Rhodes. “We think this is a fabulous program.”
© jaxnews.com 2010
06.15.10 - 03:10 pm
The first moments after a disaster are the most crucial. According to the situation, it could be minutes before emergency assistance arrives on the scene. That is why it is important to be prepared for the worst. That was the lesson 43 area youth learned last week as they attended the first Youth Preparedness Camp. “Our Youth Preparedness Camp is an innovative and unique program that promotes citizen preparedness and participation to you in Calhoun County using multiple approaches to learning,” said Marissa Brimer from the Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency. Students, ranging from 8 to 18-years-old, learned lessons in a multitude of emergency situations. “The curriculum includes subjects like emergency preparedness, developing an emergency kit, fire safety, introduction to survival and first aid, emergency medical triage, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, terrorism awareness and creating a family disaster plan,” said Brimer. The camp was held at Jacksonville’s Community Center and was conducted by the Calhoun County Citizen Corps Council. Many residents of Jacksonville helped teach classes during the week. Randy Childs from Jacksonville’s Fire Department taught the youth search and rescue skills and Denise Rucker from Retired Senior Volunteer Program led the disaster psychology class. According to Brimer, students of the camp were not only asked to learn the skills, but to take them back home and teach their friends and family about emergency preparedness. Autumn Shivers, 9, explained what she learned in her triage class.
“It’s where you sort (victims), there are categories: delayed, walking wounded, dead and immediately,” said Shivers. “I think it is important, because some people may be hurt when you don’t expect it, because there maybe like an airplane crash somewhere and then you may have to sort some people out.” By knowing who needs what kind of help, trained individuals can help inform emergency services of the status of the situation when they arrive.
Pleasant Valley’s JJ Turner, 15, said he hopes to put his learning to use one day helping others.
“I learned how to classify people during a triage, how to put out fires with a fire extinguisher and how to use the buddy system,” said Turner. Morgan Schaffer, 8, said she enjoyed learning to put out fires and will teach her baby sister the safety lessons she learned when she gets older.
Michael Leavitt, 16, said he, too, wants to share what he learned to his family and community.
“I think it is something people definitely need to know,” said Leavitt. “You can really never be too prepared.” Rashad Gamble, 14, said he enjoyed getting to use a fire extinguisher to put out actual flames started by the fire department. “It was pretty hot and intense,” said Gamble.
Alex Shivers, 8, said animal class with Susie the Poodle was her favorite class. “I learned a lot of stuff about animals,” said Shivers. “If you get bit by a dog, you still have to go to the doctor because it could have a disease or something.” To end the week, emergency officials staged a mock disaster, allowing the youth to put their newfound skills in action.
“The youth performed victim search and rescue alongside professional responders in a realistic setting,” said Brimer. Older youth helped dummy victims escape from fallen debris while younger kids helped with first aid and triage. With teamwork and remembering what they learned, the youth got though the mock disaster with flying colors. They were then treated to a graduation ceremony where they were individually recognized and received commendation from local officials and Sydney Hoffman, Director of the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. “They did an excellent job learning and they are fixing to show you they can man-up for their communities and households,” said Civil Defense Commander Harold Rhodes. “We think this is a fabulous program.”
© jaxnews.com 2010
Area kids learn first-responder EMA techniques
Anniston Star, The (AL)
June 13, 2010
Area kids learn first-responder EMA techniques
JACKSONVILLE — Calhoun County might just be a little safer thanks to an area day camp held this past week.
About four dozen children and teens, ages 8 to 19, took part in a “ Youth Preparedness Camp” hosted by the Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency. The kids spent five days — about four hours a day at the Jacksonville Community Center — learning about first aid, search and rescue, fire safety, pet safety, disaster preparedness, disaster sociology and terrorism response. “ The camp is just to teach them to take care of themselves and their family until someone comes, if something happens,” said camp director Debbie Blevins. “It may be hours until someone can come get you.”
This marks the first year the local EMA has offered the camp, but Blevins said she plans on expanding the program. She is scheduling a similar camp for home-school children in the fall and is already planning on holding a summer camp in 2011.
She said it can be particularly beneficial for the older teens looking toward careers in disaster preparedness. Brothers Michael Leavitt, 16, and Peter Leavitt, 14, of Pleasant Valley agree.
Michael said he is interested in pursuing a career with the EMA while Peter said he wants to work for a local emergency response agency one day. Both said the camp was more than fun, they said it was also informative.
“ They did a very good job of presenting their information to us,” said Michael. “I think it would be a good idea for the community to be doing things like this more often.”
The camp is also serving as a recruitment ground for another EMA disaster-preparedness program called the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Peter said after participating in the camp, he now wants to take part in both the teen and adult CERT programs.
“It was good,” Leavitt said. “I learned a lot of things I didn’t know.”
Their mom, Denise Leavitt, said she signed the boys up after hearing about the program from a family friend. Their 7-year-old sister was also able to unofficially participate in the program for a day or two.
“I thought it was wonderful. The stuff that they learned is very applicable to the times we live in,” Denise said. “For the teenagers, if they want to pursue it further, this gives them enough of idea about what these first few hours of an emergency will be like.”
June 13, 2010
Area kids learn first-responder EMA techniques
JACKSONVILLE — Calhoun County might just be a little safer thanks to an area day camp held this past week.
About four dozen children and teens, ages 8 to 19, took part in a “ Youth Preparedness Camp” hosted by the Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency. The kids spent five days — about four hours a day at the Jacksonville Community Center — learning about first aid, search and rescue, fire safety, pet safety, disaster preparedness, disaster sociology and terrorism response. “ The camp is just to teach them to take care of themselves and their family until someone comes, if something happens,” said camp director Debbie Blevins. “It may be hours until someone can come get you.”
This marks the first year the local EMA has offered the camp, but Blevins said she plans on expanding the program. She is scheduling a similar camp for home-school children in the fall and is already planning on holding a summer camp in 2011.
She said it can be particularly beneficial for the older teens looking toward careers in disaster preparedness. Brothers Michael Leavitt, 16, and Peter Leavitt, 14, of Pleasant Valley agree.
Michael said he is interested in pursuing a career with the EMA while Peter said he wants to work for a local emergency response agency one day. Both said the camp was more than fun, they said it was also informative.
“ They did a very good job of presenting their information to us,” said Michael. “I think it would be a good idea for the community to be doing things like this more often.”
The camp is also serving as a recruitment ground for another EMA disaster-preparedness program called the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Peter said after participating in the camp, he now wants to take part in both the teen and adult CERT programs.
“It was good,” Leavitt said. “I learned a lot of things I didn’t know.”
Their mom, Denise Leavitt, said she signed the boys up after hearing about the program from a family friend. Their 7-year-old sister was also able to unofficially participate in the program for a day or two.
“I thought it was wonderful. The stuff that they learned is very applicable to the times we live in,” Denise said. “For the teenagers, if they want to pursue it further, this gives them enough of idea about what these first few hours of an emergency will be like.”