JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. - Children anxious to finish their last week of 5th grade and begin enjoying the summer received some important information that will help make play-time even safer for them - first aid tips from Madigan Army Medical Center military and civilian staff members.
Representatives from Madigan's Military Consolidated Education Department headed to Joint Base Lewis-McChord Carter Lake Elementary School June 23 to provide students a crash course in what to say when calling 911, how to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on the mannequin "Chokin' Charlie" and how to best apply field-expedient bandages to body parts like the knee, leg or elbow.
The highlight of the two-day event for the students was the ambulance provided by Madigan's Emergency Department.
Paramedics hooked students up to an EKG machine and printed out their heart rate as a keepsake.
"This is a great community outreach event that allows us to teach the students about basic first aid and improve on the strong relationship we have with McChord Field," said Sgt. Mario Miguel Sevilla.
Sevilla wowed the children by telling them about how he would rip up shirts or anything he could find to wrap up Soldiers injured in bomb blasts while deployed to Baghdad, Iraq.
"I love doing this for the military community, and the expressions on the kids' faces were priceless," Sevilla said.
Cheri Randall used an easy example to impress on the children the importance of learning their phone number and address - what if you come home from playing outside and mom is lying on the kitchen floor, not moving' What do you do'
"If she doesn't wake up, I want you to go to the telephone and call 911," she said.
Students role-played calling the police and Randall in turn played the part as the 911 operator.
"I asked the children the exact same questions the 911 communication center would ask them to give them a sense of realism and what to expect in case the situation ever comes up," Randall said.
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