MOHAVE COUNTY – Mohave College paramedic students volunteered at Camp-Not-A-Wheeze, a summer camp for children living with chronic lung diseases or allergies, helping ensure campers remained healthy.
Fourteen students and two instructors were available to assist campers who needed medical attention. During the camp, children were supervised by a team of health care professionals, including paramedics, respiratory therapists, nurses and other medical personnel who volunteered their time.
Volunteering at events like this helps paramedic students gain experience treating pediatric patients as they prepare to enter the workforce. Students learn how to interact with pediatric patients, build rapport and listen to their concerns.
Paramedic student Preston Baldwin found the experience rewarding, invaluable and enjoyable. Volunteering for the week strengthened his interest in pediatric care and highlighted the importance of programs that combine medical oversight with opportunities for children to enjoy life.
“The camp provided an environment where I was able to observe pediatric patients outside of emergency situations and gain a greater understanding of how chronic illnesses affect their daily lives,” Baldwin said. “I was able to witness the challenges these children face, but more importantly, I observed their resilience, confidence and ability to thrive when provided with the proper support and resources.”
The paramedic program prepares students to provide prehospital emergency care as members of ambulance services, fire departments, search-and-rescue teams and volunteer ambulance services.
Students learn to provide a variety of medical services, including recognizing and managing patients with heart disease; providing immediate care to people with injuries from vehicle crashes, burns, poisoning, and alcohol or drug overdoses; assisting with emergency childbirth and acute psychiatric disorders; and responding to other medical emergencies.
For more information about the paramedic program, visit Mohave.edu/EMS. Registration for the fall semester is open, and students are encouraged to sign up before classes fill up.
