All year, the students in Rachael Chase’s emergency medical technician class have been studying how to extricate people from car crashes, administer early medical care, and get them into an ambulance and on to the hospital.
But it wasn’t until the Region 10 Technical High students came to the Orr’s Island firehouse near the end of the spring semester that they got the chance to put their classroom knowledge to work.
With coaching from experienced EMTs, the aspiring first responders assessed the injuries of “victim” Cindy Bessmer from a head-on collision that had been simulated in the parking lot. They gently helped her from the vehicle, eased her onto a stretcher and lifted her into an ambulance.
“This is the first time they’ve gotten vehicle extrication experience,” said their instructor, Chase, who got her EMT license at age 16 and went on to become a paramedic and instructor. “It’s awesome to see how far they’ve come.”
Sean Hall, a firefighter and EMT with the town, and Meriel Longley, a town firefighter-paramedic, serve as advisers to the class and organized the training exercise.
“In the classroom setting, they really don’t get hands-on experience,” said Hall, who also serves as assistant chief of the volunteer Orr’s and Bailey Islands Fire Department.
In addition to the simulated car crash, the students practiced their skills responding to a heart attack, stroke and fatality.
Chase said many of her students already volunteer with their local departments. Her class prepares them to take the challenging national test to become an EMT.
“They can be licensed before they’re holding their high school diplomas,” she said. “It’s incredible.”
Region 10 draws students from Harpswell, Brunswick and surrounding communities. Elliot Morgan, 17, played a leadership role among his classmates, drawing on his experience as a volunteer junior firefighter in West Bath.
“I love first response,” he said. “It’s the coolest thing in the world to be able to help somebody on their worst day.”
As the class debriefed over pizza and soda after the exercise, the collision “victim” — Bessmer is a volunteer EMT in the Orr’s and Bailey department — joined Hall in encouraging the students to pursue their licenses and replenish the aging ranks of emergency responders.
“We need young, enthusiastic people in the field,” Hall told the students.
“Like you,” echoed Bessmer. “Like all of you.”
