Student-Led Search and Rescue Mission Caps Off CPR and First Aid Training

Student-Led Search and Rescue Mission Caps Off CPR and First Aid Training

Imagine you are a student in a PEP Willow Creek classroom and the teacher has stepped away for a moment. She has left her walkie talkie on her desk. Suddenly, you hear a distress call come in over the walkie talkie: a staff member who had been clearing the sensory trail in the woods with a chain saw has had an accident and is bleeding. She is seriously hurt and calling for help. What would you do? When this simulated scenario unfolded last fall, the PEP Willow Creek students felt ready to carry out a student-led search and rescue mission.

Student practicing CPR on a dummy

That’s because they had all recently earned their CPR and first aid certification as part of the American Heart Association’s HeartSaver course. Thankfully, this scenario was only a drill. The simulation was designed as a hands-on challenge for students to use their new emergency preparedness skills.

The 14 PEP Willow Creek students who participated in the student-led search and rescue mission were the first PEP students to earn their CPR and first aid certification in a new learning initiative. Students from PEP Chesnutt, PEP Hopewell, and PEP Phoenix will also have the opportunity this year. Three PEP staff members earned their CPR instructor certification to lead the program:

  • Doug Hershman, outdoor education manager
  • Jessica Whitesel, PEP Willow Creek associate teacher counselor, life skills; and
  • Creighton Johnson, PEP Chesnutt associate teacher counselor, life skills.

Life Skills at PEP

At PEP, each Day Treatment Center has an associate teacher counselor who focuses on life skills. It’s an important addition to traditional academics. PEP’s students all have individualized education plans (IEPs) and need additional support to be successful in school. Not surprisingly, the challenges they face don’t end in the classroom. They extend to many areas of life. Having extra support to learn critical life skills is an extra layer of support that helps PEP students overcome the challenges that may hold them back.

Being prepared in an emergency is a critical life skill. “In outdoor education, we often encounter situations where knowing CPR and first aid could make a significant difference in someone’s life,” explained Hershman. “I wanted to empower our students with the knowledge and confidence they need to respond effectively in emergencies.”

Important Lessons

CPR and first aid training held more learning opportunities for students than just life-saving. Students gained a sense of accomplishment when they earned their certification. They understood that it was more than a piece of paper. It was a commitment to their community to help those in need. That was an empowering notion.

One student, Bethany*, took a particular interest in what she was learning. She was enthusiastic during practical drills and asked thoughtful questions throughout the process. During down time, she took the initiative to help her classmates practice.

“It was inspiring to see her become a leader among her peers,” said Hershman. “I have no doubt that she will continue to advocate for safety in her home and community.”

The Student-Led Search and Rescue Mission

After the PEP Willow Creek students heard the simulated distress call over the walkie talkie, they grabbed the first aid bag and ran to the woods. Using the skills they had learned in class, they searched the area together. Once they located the victim, they scanned the scene for safety. They then simulated the first aid skills that would have been required in such a scenario and called 911 for support.

They worked as a team, listening to instructions from 911 and stopping the bleeding with supplies from the first aid bag. The 911 operator asked them to move the victim from the woods to a location where the EMS team from the ambulance could meet for transport.

“It was awesome to see the students manage a crisis call with confidence in themselves and each other,” explained Whitesel. “They are used to being around crisis situations in their day-to-day lives but to trust their personal instinct and training to help others shows them that they too have something to offer their community.”  

Learn More

For more information about PEP’s life skills or hands-on learning, including the student-led search and rescue mission, visit our website. Contact Nicole Molnar, sr. director, clinical services, at 216-361-7760 ext. 110 or via email to see if a student in your district may be a good fit for Positive Education Program.

Please note, referrals to PEP’s Day Treatment Centers are made through school districts in consultation with parents. Interested parents or caregivers should contact their school administrator.

*Name changed for privacy