|
First Responder Project: Collaboration, Education, Comradery
The Partnership is excited to be part of an ongoing collaborative effort to recruit new Emergency Medical Responders (EMR) in Tioga County. A new pilot program to train high school students is beginning this month! This is addressing a need that was echoed in the Partnership's latest countywide quality-of-life survey. Plans are underway to first offer EMR training to kids 16 and over in Wellsboro Highschool with potential future plans for expansion into other schools. Participants receive training from Penn College of Technology and earn 3 college credits for a nominal fee of $75 which can be recouped from an emergency services agency if they are already a member. What's more is that team members working on this project considered the important social aspect of teen life in developing these programs too. The developing "Countywide Junior Explorer Program" will incorporate younger students (14-17 years of age) and adds a social element by offering practical and leadership skill trainings under one roof. This program will coordinate with the learning taking place in the EMR and potential EMT classes. By bringing participants together from around the county under one roof and with one shared mission, the hope is that a culture of comradery will flourish and life-saving teamwork will be the order of the day.
Current First Responder Project Team members are: Mark Trueman and Jason Zielewicz of Penn College of Technology, Andy Tom of UPMC-Susquehanna Health, Rob Kreger of Wellsboro Area School District, Benton Best of Tioga County Emergency Services along with school administrators, Superintendents-Brenda Freeman, Diana Barnes, and Sam Rotella, County Commissioner Mark Hamilton and our very own Executive Director, Sue Sticklin.
|
