PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth High School FFA students who planned a workshop for their peers hope they never need to apply the skills learned Friday.
Katelyn Swingle, Plymouth FFA president, and Kristen Swingle, vice president, organized four hours of emergency preparedness education for high school students, which included eight, half-hour sessions.
The twin sisters said Laura Ringler, Plymouth FFA advisor, secured a grant for up to $5,000 to create an event for their school.
“We thought about car safety and how it could be very beneficial to our high schoolers and teens,” Katelyn said.
When the twins began driving, Kristen said their father taught them to always be prepared.
“Teen accidents are real. They do happen, especially with that age group,” Kristen said. “I think a lot of people can benefit from that (education).”
Local departments lead lessons
Friday’s emergency preparedness sessions included everything from accident scene preparedness to basic first aid and survival skills.
Several local departments led sessions including:
- Firefighters and EMTs from the Shelby and Shiloh Fire Departments.
- Blood and organ donation services from the American Red Cross and Lifeline of Ohio.
- Impaired driving from the Ohio State Richland County Extension Office.
- Accident scene preparedness from the Plymouth Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
- Basic first aid from Fenix Private Ambulance Service of Mansfield.
- CPR/EPIPen/Heimlich maneuver/Blood glucose monitoring and other emergency situations from school nurse Kristen Grove.
- Survival skills from outdoorsman Rodger Frydrychowski.
- Basic car maintenance from Nick Laferty of Ag Repair Service.
Registered student drivers also received a free emergency kit, valued at around $50.
The kit included first aid supplies with gloves, an emergency triangle, a roadside flare, a fire starter and multi-screwdriver, an all-purpose weather-resistant tarp and jumper cables.
Also included was a cinch-close drawstring bag, tire pressure gauges, an ice scraper, hand sanitizer packets, a flashlight and emergency glucose and water.
Photo gallery:
Plymouth FFA leads first responders ceremony
Following Friday’s learning sessions, students gathered in the gymnasium for an assembly honoring local first responders, followed by a luncheon.
Plymouth senior Colton Hass, also an FFA member, said he was inspired by his father, Troy Hass, assistant chief of the village’s fire and EMS department, to organize the assembly.
“My dad has been with the fire department and EMS for about 30 years,” he said. “My grandparents were also part of the fire department.
“Growing up, he never really got a lot of recognition,” Hass said of his father.
Often a thankless job, firefighters, law enforcement and emergency services were at the forefront of Friday’s assembly.
Each first responder was announced and thanked for their service.
“These guys (first responders) risk their lives all the time, but they don’t get a lot of recognition,” Hass said. “I figured it was the least I could do to show my appreciation for them.”