EMT Students Put Knowledge Into Saving Lives

A woman lay face down on the ground, blood and pieces of metal covered her chest.  The flashing red and blue lights of the emergency vehicles were the only lights the EMT team had to work in. 

 The team had never worked together before, but today they had to put their collective knowledge to work, because every second, every action mattered.

“An ether explosion rocked the South Street Fire Department, injuring two to four patients,”  the station leader told the students of four high schools at the start of the Third Annual EMT Olympics.

 When the New Milford, Redding, Bethel and New Fairfield students arrived on the scene, they were told to go upstairs to grab their equipment and when they came down, they found there were actually six to eight patients, meant to challenge what they had previously learned; always prepare for more injuries than are reported.

 Brian Bergen, Bethel High School EMT student, is working towards getting his EMT license.  “We are working under pressure and having to show everything we learned this year,” he said.  “My goal is to be certified by June.  It’s a lifelong skill. I might do it on the side while I am in college.” 

 The EMS Response Exercise consisted of three stations, the first being assessment upon arrival on the scene of the disaster.  Students took vital signs to determine the extent of a patient's injuries.  Setting bones and stabilizing patients to assure they were not injured further was next, and finally, the patients were moved into the ambulance.

 Ambulance Director, James Cooper said, “The Bethel kids are really stellar. They are so fast and so accurate. They have collective knowledge, they know how to work well as a team.”

 New Fairfield High School Junior, Jordan Varno, said about the Olympics,  “You really have to be on your toes.  It takes a lot of concentration.”

 Sitting with her team, Varno, who lives part time in Bethel with her father, said this event was more difficult because they couldn’t rely on their school relationships.  Each team was made up of a student from each school. “We didn’t know any of the team members, but we have a good team.  They are good to work with,” she said.

 For all of the challenges,  Bethel came out on top once again, winning Best Overall among the four schools.

 Sherri Holmberg, EMS director at the South Street Fire Department, is the teacher for the EMT class at BHS.  “There are so many people who participated to make this happen,” she said.   “Newtown Ambulance, Danbury Hospital, Redding Ridge Fire Department, West Redding Fire Department, Bethel Fire Department, the Fire Department from Western Connecticut State University, Stony Hill Fire Department, Staff of the ERM Ambulance Company.”

 Holmberg explained that Bethel hosts the event, but all of the different organizations come together for the EMT Olympics. “It takes a lot of people to make it happen.  The students are our future and it is well worth it for them to be prepared.”

 Superintendent Kevin Smith was one of the honorary victims, minus the bloody make-up.  He said, “The Bethel students were absolutely impressive.  What was remarkable was the command they had of the situation.  What an opportunity to come together, with so much going on.  You knew there was more going on there than met the eye.”