Florence County EMS News - FCEMS teams with Explorer group for health instruction

Future heroes of America

Allen Rogers, 12 practices CPR as Paramedic Travis Brunson of Florence County EMS watches children from the Explorer Academy at Francis Marion University in Florence

Explorer camp begins with CPR training www.morningnewsonline.com June 6, 2001

by Angela James
Staff Writer
ajames@florencenews.com

Florence - "What is a stretcher?" "Why are there teddy bears on this ambulance?" "Why do you need a phone on an ambulance?"
      Those were a few of the questions posed to Florence County Emergency Medical Services personnel by the children who participated in the Post 443 Explorer Academy's beginner's camp Tuesday at Francis Marion University. The beginner's camp, designed for children ages 8 to 14, is sponsored by the Florence County Sheriff's Office.
      The children administered first aid to test dummies - and each other - as they learned everything from rescue breathing to the signs of choking. The EMS workers not only taught the children what they do every day, but also the basics of CPR.
     "Some of the children are not physically big enough to do CPR, but they are smart enough to learn the procedure," said Chip Culbertson, EMS Public Information Officer. "As they grow, maybe they will remember what they were taught and still be able to do the mechanical part of it."
      Explorer Malony Cooper, 10, said Tuesday's demonstration is one of the best things that could have been added to the camp. She said she and her fellow Explorers learned a lot about CPR.
      "I came to the camp so I wouldn't have a boring summer, and so far, it hasn't been." 13-year-old Explorer Jazna Smith said. "I've learned the signs and symptoms of choking, what to do if someone is choking and how to do CPR."
      Culbertson and Travis Brunson of EMS said they spent the day teaching the children the ins and outs of CPR because they feel the camp is one of the best programs offered by the Sheriff's Office.
      In only its second year of existence, the number of participants has more than doubled with 43 participants this year.

      The camp began as a way for children who are interested in law enforcement to see firsthand what officers do, but has slowly become a way for them to learn life skills as well.
      "This year, we have children who requires a great deal of attention and they get it here, with there being at least eight counselors with them at any given time," said Deputy Jody Lynch, who serves as an advisor for Florence County Explorers Post 443 as well as South Florence High School's School Resource Officer.
      "The camp started out being a way for us to teach the children what law enforcement is really about, and this year, a lot of the children just needed some positive influences for the summer," she said.
     Lynch said she and fellow Explorer advisors, Jamie Cooper, Jason Dore, Dan Porter and Gary Lewis, are already looking at ways to improve the two-week camp for next year.
      Explorer Allison Lynch said the camp is so much better than it was last year because there are more people and more activities. But she said if there was one thing she could easily change, it would be the running they do during the physical training each morning.
      During the next two weeks, the children will have a field day, a class on bicycle safety, learn aspects of law enforcement from forensics to evidence processing to ticket writing, and take part in many other activities.
      The beginner's camp is conducted Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Advanced Explorer's camp will begin at the end of the month and last for three weeks. For information, call the Sheriff's Office at (843) 665-2121.