Teens learn how to respond to a disaster

Published 10:37 pm Wednesday, April 30, 2008

MARYSVILLE — Next time you find yourself in an emergency, your rescuer may be a teenager.

The Marysville YMCA and the Minority Achievers Program is enlisting the help of teen volunteers across Snohomish County for Student Emergency Response Teams in an effort to bolster disaster and emergency response services.

Jeff Sam, a student at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, is volunteering — and bringing some friends with him.

“I want to be a firefighter and this is something that can help me get there,” he said. “It will be a good opportunity to volunteer and try it out.”

Sam, 15, is interested in medical relief.

“I would like to be able to help triage patients and help with first aid,” Sam said. “But more than anything, I want to volunteer to learn more. It could help me in the future.”

Triage is the practice of evaluating patients’ injuries and establishing an order of treatment.

Sounds far-fetched for a teen to help in an emergency? JJ Frank, director of the Minority Achievers Program, doesn’t think so.

“Emergency Management requires volunteers to be 14 and over, and

determines what is appropriate for a certain level of training,” Frank said. “These teens will be able to help out.”

At the end of their training, teens will be able to administer first aid, perform CPR, provide emergency response and evaluate patients for care.

Volunteers undergo 40 hours of training with emergency response curriculum, preparing them for disasters and other situations.

The program also offers teens life skills, Frank said.

“Once they receive this training, the students will get excited about the volunteer opportunities in these specific fields,” he said.

And that’s what the program is all about, Frank said. To introduce teens to volunteer opportunities in the emergency services field so one day they might pursue it as a career.

“I think it’s important for the community to know how to respond during emergencies and the idea is to learn how to partner with Snohomish County emergency management,” Frank said. “If these teen volunteers assist local law enforcement and fire departments, then not only will they better serve the community but also consider making it their career.”

Until then, the teen volunteers will train and work with emergency services of all types to learn how to assist in an emergency.

And firing the water hose doesn’t hurt, either.

“It was so cool, lots of fun,” Sam said. “Learning how to use the equipment is fun. All my friends are going to want to volunteer.”

Reporter Justin Arnold: 425-339-3432 or jarnold@heraldnet.com.