WALLER — After a year of learning, Waller High School Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) students’ skills were put to the test. EMT Instructor Natalie Miller hosted Extrication Day on April 17 where students went through hours of simulations for recovering injured patients from wrecked vehicles. Along with these practice exercises, students must also complete 48 hours on an ambulance, 48 hours in the emergency room, and 18 hours in labor and delivery to receive a basic EMT certification.
“I knew the students needed an opportunity to put all the skills together that they had been working on all year,” Miller said. “I wanted to create a real-life scene for the students to do so.”
The day consisted of students approaching staged emergencies as they would on the job. When arriving on the scene they would assess the situation, discuss the best way to aid patients, and safely move them to an ambulance or Life Flight helicopter. As the day began, Miller and professional EMTs assisted students through the scenarios to teach best practices. The students progressed through several practice rounds throughout the day and, as they gained confidence, were given more control. By the last scenario, students had full control of the scene with no help from Miller or any volunteer.
“There is no greater feeling than to see your students live out a dream of theirs,” Miller said. “We practice skills so often in the classroom, study and prepare for different scenarios, but it is just so different when you really get in there.”
To create Extrication Day, Miller enlisted the help of the community. The Waller Volunteer Fire Department, Waller County EMS, Waller County Sheriff’s Office, and TriCounty Life Flight provided emergency vehicles and aided students throughout the day. Reflections Paint and Body and Waller County Paint and Body provided the wrecked vehicles. Thank you for supporting WHS student learning!
“I’m extremely grateful for the large community involvement,” Miller said. “Hands-on experience is extremely important for this profession. We can only do so much in the classroom and I want the students to be prepared for situations they will encounter during their clinical hours.”