Some of Brantley County’s “finest” turned out Friday for a visit with students and teachers at Nahunta Primary School, giving the students a first-hand look at emergency equipment and a lesson in the art of being unselfish and committed.
Principal Drew Harris was pleased with the turnout and how the students responded to the event.
“We invited all of our community helpers to come and bring their equipment,” said Harris. “It’s an effort to teach safety and let the students know these people are their friends.”
It was clear the children were listening as questions were asked by the servants and answered by the students. When asked if they knew what an ambulance does, one little boy answered, “They save you. They saved me. They took me to the hospital. I almost drowned in a lake and the firemen came and saved me.”
He was 6 years old.
The pilot and his crew, each of whom has several years experience in the medical field, talked about their helicopter and the way they help people. The chopper can fly two and a half hours on a fill-up of fuel. Some of them had stints in the military. The pilot is required to have 2,000 hours of flight time, 300 hours in night vision goggles. The chopper is also equipped with spotlights to help with searches when necessary.
At 7 a.m. each day, the pilot checks the aircraft and assumes duty for the coming shift.
The Georgia Forestry Fire Department brought in a huge semi hauling a tractor that’s used to cut trenches and fire breaks when a forest fire breaks out. Smokey the Bear was there, interacting with the students and helping to teach fire safety.
Brantley County EMTs allowed the children to walk through the ambulance and see all the equipment inside the body of the unit. When asked if the students knew his phone number to call him if they need help, in unison they answered “9-1-1!” But no one was able to tell the EMT what their address was or what street they lived on.
“When you get home, ask your parents to tell you what street you live on and what your address is,” the EMT said. “That is very, very important to know.”
Engine 10 from Nahunta Fire Department was there with equipment and items used in firefighting.
“Who can tell me what this is?” asked one of the firefighters when he put a mask over his face.
“It’s a mask,” several of the students answered.
Room by room, the teachers led their students onto the grounds where they were allowed to see inside and outside of the rescue equipment and talk to the personnel who were in attendance.
“We wanted to teach them about safety and help them to learn who is there to help when something happens,” said Principal Harris. “I believe it’s important to give them the opportunity for a first-hand look at the rescue equipment. And they enjoy it. We had perfect weather for it today.”
Photo By MYRA WILLIAMS
Students at Nahunta Primary School were treated to a special visit by a number of the “community helpers” who work in the field of rescue, firefighting and rendering medical treatment Friday.
Photo By MYRA WILLIAMS
“Smokey the Bear” was in attendance along with a contingent of firefighters from the Georgia Forestry Commission’s Brantley County unit.
Photo By MYRA WILLIAMS
A pilot, a nurse and a paramedic were on board a medical helicopter that touched down in an open field behind Nahunta Primary School Friday to teach children about safety, helping and community support.
