Twenty-three youth in grades 5-11 had their chance to experience careers they’re thinking about pursuing when they’re a bit older. The Sept. 21 workshop gave them the opportunity to do tasks that professionals in these careers do every day.
This workshop focused on the careers of 911 Dispatch, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Paramedic, Firefighter, Law Enforcement, and Ohio Highway Patrol.
In the morning the youth worked directly within the career they’re interested in pursuing. They work in small groups so it’s easy to ask questions of the professionals they’re working with and they can easily do hands-on activities. Some of the activities included learning about the vehicles they use and what they carry inside them, how to do CPR, pull fingerprints, connect a fire hose to a fire hydrant, extinguish fire, bandage a wound and dispatch emergency calls.
The mock crash was a highlight of the day. Youth rode to the crash (onsite) in the fire engine, ambulance, or watched the trooper from the sidelines go to the scene and they jumped into action with the professionals and helped them get to work.
The firefighters demonstrated to the youth how to use the Jaws of Life to pry open the car. The youth then was able to help get the victim out and take her to the ambulance to be evaluated. At this time the law enforcement and Ohio Highway Patrol takes over and analyzes the scene to figure out how the crash occurred. This was a great learning exercise for the youth.
Deputy Coulter brought his K9 partner and conducted a demonstration of how the dog works a scene. Trooper Nelson talked with the youth about the importance of not driving while impaired. The youth wore fatal vision goggles that made the youth see as though they were impaired, and we asked them to play corn hole. They became very aware how much of what they were seeing wasn’t reality. None of them came close to hitting the target.
This workshop occurred because of a great partnership between OSU Extension – Morrow County, 911 Dispatch, Morrow County EMS, Morrow County Sheriff’s Department, Mount Gilead Fire Department and Ohio Highway Patrol.
A thank you to Norm’s Towing, which provided a last-minute car to use for our mock crash.
For upcoming Career Exploration Workshops visit go.osu.edu/careerexploration for more information. One will be coming up this winter and in April.
