Campers watched as emergency personnel worked together during a wreck demonstration at the LaGrange Police and Fire Youth Camp Thursday morning. More than 50 children between the ages of 8 and 15 participated in the weeklong camp this year.
“We wanted to show them what we do on the scene and what agencies are involved,” Lt. Chris Taylor of the LaGrange Fire Department said. “I explained how we want to protect the patient and not extend any injuries they may already have.”
Firefighters with the LaGrange Fire Department, with help from Troup County AMR, used Jaws of Life to demonstrate how victims are removed from serious car accidents. The accident victim, a volunteer from the fire department, was then taken to an Air Evac helicopter nearby.
“Anything they can do in the emergency room, we can do in the aircraft,” Flight Nurse Rachael Dillin said. Dillin showed campers where different monitors and medication are kept in the helicopter, which can cost up to $25,000 per flight.
Dillen said the Air Evac helicopter transports stroke, heart attack and accident victims to Columbus in about 15 minutes, depending on wind.
“It’s going to take an ambulance more than 40 minutes to get there, and that’s with lights and sirens,” she said. “We can get there considerably quicker.”
The demonstration was meant to emphasize the theme of teamwork that coordinators have stressed to campers throughout the week.
“We and all have our own career goals, but all work together as a team,” Officer Natalie McKinley of the LaGrange Police Department said. “If we didn’t work together as a team, it would all fall apart.”
McKinley and Taylor both said that aside from education,Youth camp shown the camp is a great way to expose children to the job opportunities in their respective fields at an early age.
“I learned how vicious the drug dogs can be, no matter how cute and cuddly they look,” Savanna Brookcamp, 15, of LaGrange said. “I met a couple new friends this week so it’s been really fun.”
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