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March 5, 2004
Marquette County Camp 911 scheduled for May 15-16
MGHS project coordinator: ‘We will provide them
an interactive experience in emergency awareness not available
anywhere else’
Skandia-West Branch Township Fire Department
Chief Bob Goodwin helps a Camp 911 participant "suit up" in turnout gear
to get a feel for what it’s like to prepare for a fire emergency.
Skandia-West Branch was one of a number of emergency agencies that
participated in the Camp 911 program in 2003.
SAWYER — The
South County YMCA Facility will soon be transformed into an American
Red Cross disaster shelter as local Marquette
County emergency agencies join forces to host the Fifth Annual
Marquette County Camp 911 program.
Camp 911, scheduled for the weekend of May 15-16, will provide area sixth-grade
students with a wide array of information, from injury and fire prevention,
to hands-on first aid training. Teaming up for this program will be staff from
a number of Marquette County EMS agencies and fire departments, law enforcement
agencies, hospitals, U.S. Coast Guard Station Marquette and Station Air Station
Traverse City, the Disaster Action Team of the U.P. Central Chapter of the
American Red Cross, and the Marquette Salvation Army.
In addition, Marq-Tran will provide students with transportation to Camp 911
from areas throughout Marquette County.
MGHS EMS Paramedic/RN Gary Gustafson, who serves as the Marquette County Camp
911 Project Coordinator, said planning for this year’s program has been
ongoing since January.
“Once again, our emergency response community has joined forces to present
our local youth with a quality program,” Gustafson said. “We will
provide them an interactive experience in emergency awareness not available anywhere
else.”
Camp 911 focuses on a number of areas that directly affect youth in this high-risk
age group. With unintentional injury continuing to be the leading cause of
death and injury for children and young adults, providing education focusing
on safety helps to reinforce safe behaviors. From teaching youth the importance
of strapping on a bike helmet to wearing their seat belt, Camp 911 helps students
understand how to keep safe.
Camp 911 provides students hands-on first aid skills preparing them to act
promptly in an emergency. Gustafson feels that their experience at Camp 911
is something that will last a lifetime.
“Besides learning about injury prevention and first aid, we want them to
learn something about themselves,” Gustafson said. “We place them
in the role of decision maker, and provide them the opportunity to handle an
array of emergency situations.”
From bleeding control to rescue breathing, campers learn a number of life-saving
skills. Camp 911 also gives local youth an opportunity to meet some of Marquette
County’s finest emergency personnel and see their equipment up close.
Additionally, with declining numbers of medical first responders and volunteer
firefighters in rural areas, it is hopeful that some Camp 911 campers would
eventually pursue additional training and go on to serve in their local communities.
Because of the generous donation of time and expertise from Camp 911 presenters
and staff, and financial support from the community, Camp 911 is free of charge.
This provides every Marquette County sixth-grade student an equal opportunity
to attend.
Camp 911 registration forms and information will be provided to area schools
the week of March 8-12, with registered campers subsequently receiving additional
information. Camp 911 is limited to 60 campers, and are randomly selected on
a school-by-school basis if necessary depending on the number of students who
apply.
For more information on the Marquette County Camp 911 program, contact Gustafson
at MGHS EMS at 225-3547, or Teresa Schwalbach, Marquette County Emergency Management
Coordinator, at 475-1134.
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