FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- For Emergency Medical Services Week, medics from General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital's Emergency Department visited Wood and Thayer elementary schools to teach students from kindergarten to 6th grade about emergency situations.
"Children need to be prepared, just as adults do. Emergency situations can be scary, but when taught how to react or who to turn to, it makes the children feel more safe," said Spc. Karrah Vella, Emergency Medical Care specialist.
In the classes, kids learned about the importance of calling 911, how to splint an injured limb, basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, transportation devices, and received a tour of an ambulance vehicle.
"When I taught basic CPR technique and procedure, the students were very interested. Some of them knew what CPR was and how to do it," said Spc. Roxanne Thompson, combat medic. "Being able to have a hands-on approach to learning basic CPR was very helpful to them. They got the chance to see and do what many certified Basic Life Support personnel have to do in an emergency situation that requires an adult patient needing CPR."
Wood Elementary 6th grader, 12-year-old Faith Roberts, was uncertain about practicing CPR on the training dummy.
"It felt rubbery -- but I think it will help me if I ever have to do CPR," Roberts said.
According to Thompson, teaching children about emergency situations can be pretty interesting.
"One thing I've learned is that children have great imaginations. One student asked if someone got bit on the finger and it was swollen, how would they be able to call 911. Another student asked, what to do if you are attacked by a bear," Thompson said.
Vella was also impressed with the students' knowledge, "I had a 5th grade student use the word anaphylaxis -- that certainly surprised me," she said.
Teaching children about emergency situations helps them become aware of what they can do to help someone or themselves.
"It makes them aware of what to pay attention to and look for when a situation is a medical emergency. This was important, especially since summer is at our front door and there this summer. So, it is important for them to be aware and educated on some of the common medical emergencies hospitals treat," Thompson said.
Roberts was excited about getting out of the classroom and learning about emergency situations.
"I learned how to do CPR and when to call 911," Roberts said. "In case something ever happens to you or your siblings, now we have the knowledge to save them."
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