At Barlow: EMT students get practical experience

While student exhibits filled the halls and classrooms of Joel Barlow High School during Barlow Palooza on May 26, students in the school’s Emergency Medical Technician Program were outside showing off their life-saving abilities during their final examination.

The 14 students, whose course work began in September, were summoned to a mock mass casualty incident involving a crash scenario in the back lot of the high school.

During the practical examination, students were required to evaluate victims in various states of distress, from simple cuts and bruises, to broken bones and shock victims, to test their response skills.

Students were observed by certified instructors from the Redding Fire and EMS Co. #1 and graded on their responses, assessment and treatment of the victims in the emergency situations.

Pam Goodpaster, coordinator of the program at the high school who attended the examination, said the course has been available to students since 1984 and is presented as an elective in the school’s Wellness Curriculum.

Over the past year, she said the students in the program received classroom instruction at Barlow and Bethel high schools.

“This is the culmination of a year-long introduction to emergency medical care,” she said.

In addition, Ms. Goodpaster said students also participated in hands-on learning activities with the Redding EMS and fire department and Danbury Hospital.

“It is nice that the ambulance and fire departments are doing this for us,” she said. “This is a great example of reaching out to the community as mentors.”

Ms. Goodpaster added that the exam is only one part of the certification process, which also involves a state written examination for students in June.