Shelton students gets hands-on glimpse at emergency services
SHELTON — Eighth graders are learning to save lives while getting a glimpse into the world of emergency services.
More than two dozen students at Shelton Intermediate School are participating in the newly created Fire and EMS Pathways, a public safety club. Students have been meeting every Thursday, and sessions included handson lessons on CPR, bleeding control and use of fire suppression equipment.
“It’s my favorite club I’ve ever done,” said James Zaccagnini as he worked on placing a tourniquet on his own arm.
Echo Hose Ambulance Corps Assistant Chief Joe Laucella — who helped create the club with Shelton Fire Chief Francis T. Jones III — helped teach the students about bleeding control Thursday.
Jones said the state has undertaken a firefighter recruitment effort, and programs that model the intermediate school’s club have begun to gain traction in a few communities. But the longtime chief says Shelton remains a leader in youth training.
“Shelton is at the forefront. I believe we are the only community doing this at the eighth-grade level,” Jones said.
This past Thursday’s session included students learning to apply pressure to stop bleeding, plus a mock accident in which a group of students find a severely injured person in a park and must assist with bleeding control techniques and calling emergency dispatch for assistance. “This is a great educational experience for these kids,” said Emergency Management Director Michael Maglione. “They are learning something that can save a life, maybe a family member, other community members, one of their friends.
“It also can prepare them for a possible career path in medical services, like a doctor, nurse, emergency medical technician, firefighter,” Maglione added. “This opens so many doors for them.”
Matthew Hluska, an eighth grader at the intermediate school, wants to help others and has his eye on a career in medicine. So when the club formed, he jumped all-in.
“These skills are really helping me,” said Hluska, adding that the club has only reinforced his desire to become a doctor. “This is really fun.”
Kolton Dlugas, who was working with Hluska mastering bleeding control techniques on a fake injured body part, said joining the club was a natural fit.
“I always wanted to help people. I want to be an EMT,” he said.
Abigaelle Knaggs and Jazzy Laudat agreed with their classmates — learning to help people was the main allure to joining the club.
“Learning about ways to help others and yourself … safety in general,” Knaggs said. “That’s why we joined. I know my first choice for a career is being a nurse. After being in the club, I know I want to work in medicine.”
The Public Safety Club will run for 16 weeks and is introducing eighth graders to the EMS and firefighting profession while learning lifesaving skills such as CPR, fire extinguisher use, and bleeding control.
In addition, Laucella said students will learn about fire and EMS apparatus, safety tools, and equipment used during everyday emergencies. At the club’s final meeting, the Shelton Emergency Services team will conduct a live demonstration for students that will encompass apparatus, safety, emergency equipment and lifesaving skills that were taught throughout the 16-week program.
“I started with EMS when I was 16, and I think (Jones) did the same,” Laucella said. “I know I always wished I had the ability to start even sooner. When the idea for this public safety club came up for eighth graders, we knew it was the way to go.”
Jones said the club not only offers lessons in lifesaving techniques but also a chance to develop relationships with potential future recruits to the city’s volunteer emergency services.
“Not everyone necessarily knows what they want to do at this age, but this gives them a chance to explore something,” Laucella said. “These could be our future volunteers. Some of them have already started to ask about next year at high school, if this will be available.”
Jones said the plan is to continue the club at the intermediate school and expand into the high school next year.
The city offers students and residents, 16 years and older, an opportunity to volunteer in the Shelton
Fire Department or at Echo Hose Ambulance.
High school students, at least 16 years old, can take an emergency medical technician course and volunteer at Echo Hose Ambulance or join one of the four Shelton fire companies as a junior firefighter. Many former Shelton High School students have joined both the Shelton Fire Department and Echo Hose Ambulance while in school.
“This is something I can see myself going into when I’m older,” Zaccagnini said about the medical field. “If someone is hurt, if there is a public emergency, I may be able to save a life. It’s a great feeling.”