MADISON TOWNSHIP — “Stayin’ Alive” and “Pink Pony Club” have more in common than a spot on a playlist.

The beats to both songs became part of a hands-on CPR lesson for Madison Comprehensive High School students during Moday’s visit from the Mansfield U.S. Army Recruiting Station.

The Army brought its medical demonstration truck to the school, giving students a hands-on look at military medicine and the healthcare careers available through the U.S. Army.

(Story continues below video. Madison Comprehensive High School student tries a hands-on CPR simulation inside the medical demonstration truck. Credit: Hannah Martin)

Ryan Grant, a senior recruiter with the Mansfield U.S. Army Recruiting Station, said the truck travels around the country to showcase the Army’s medical field.

“It’s one-of-a-kind,” Grant said. “Generally it’s in California, Miami, huge metros and medical conventions to really showcase what the Army has in the medical field because a lot of people don’t know what the Army has.”

The truck’s visit marked its first stop in Ohio. Then it’s scheduled to visit Mansfield Senior Tuesday, Pioneer in Shelby on Wednesday and Tri-Rivers on Thursday.

“Thank you to the Mansfield U.S. Army Recruiting Station and the U.S. Army for bringing this amazing experience to our school,” Grant said. “We appreciate you taking the time to invest in our students and inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals.” 

Grant planned the Mansfield visit about a year in advance and selected the schools because all have medical programs.

“I really just want to let the kids know what the Army has,” Grant said. “Experiences like this give our students a chance to explore future career paths, develop new interests and see how classroom learning connects to real-world opportunities.”

(Story continues below photos. Madison Comprehensive High Schools students explore the simulations inside the medical demonstration truck. Credit: Hannah Martin)

Hands-on demonstrations for Madison students

Students from several grades and programs got a chance to explore the truck.

Elizabeth Hicks, a career connections counselor at Madison Comprehensive, said the school brought out 10th-grade health classes, ninth- and 10th-grade strength training classes and career-technical students in their junior and senior years.

“We got a little bit of everybody out here today,” Hicks said.

Hicks said the health technology students especially enjoyed the experience because some of the seniors already participate in work release.

The truck features displays focused on several Army medical careers, including dental hygiene, patient care, veterinary medicine and operating-room specialties.

Students could also interact with two tables that offered simulated first-responder and surgical experiences.

(Story continues below video. Madison Comprehensive High School students explore the simulations inside the medical demonstration truck. Credit: Hannah Martin)

The truck included anatomy activities, videos and two medical simulators. One simulator provides live feedback during CPR practice, while another allows students to locate six different pulses throughout the body.

Grant said students could practice CPR by performing chest compressions at a rhythm of about 100 to 140 beats per minute. Compressions should be about four to six centimeters into the chest with elbows locked to maintain the proper motion.

Grant also explained how songs can help people maintain the rhythm during CPR.

He suggested “Stayin’ Alive” or “Pink Pony Club” as possible songs to keep the beat.

Students could also explore the Army’s dental programs and patient care equipment, including information about LPNs and medical dressings.

“We invented a lot of dressings that are used in medicine today,” Grant said. “So the Army is the forefront of medicine.”

The veterinary portion highlighted Army animal care specialists who care for military pets and canines. Grant said the Army also still has working horses in the military.

The program trains specialists in different medical practices, Grant said. It can include helping other countries learn modern ways to care for livestock.

Demonstrations offer a look at Army careers

For 18-year-old Claire Durbridge, the veterinary portion connected directly to her own experience. She works at her dad’s veterinary clinic and also is considering psychology after high school.

“It was pretty cool,” the senior said. “They have a lot of stuff in there.”

Durbridge said she enjoyed a video game that allowed students to help patients and receive a rating as a doctor. She also enjoyed watching the veterinary medicine video because she recognized some of the things she does at the clinic.

While she has always been open to the Marines, she added that military service has not been a priority for her.

“I have so much support that it’s not really something that I have to do,” Durbridge said. “But for someone who maybe is looking to get a career and get ahead in life and they maybe don’t have the best financial situation, then I think it’s an amazing option.”

Senior Jace Germann said the visit showed him opportunities within the military that he did not know existed.

“It was actually pretty fun,” the 17-year-old said.

Germann, who plans to pursue real estate after high school, said his favorite part of the experience came outside the truck.

“My favorite part, personally, is the outside punching thing because that’s pretty fun,” Germann said.

The experience also changed what Germann knew about military careers.

“I didn’t realize that there was more of a financial opening in the military,” he said.

(Video shows Jace Germann hitting a punching bag outside the medical demonstration truck. Credit: Hannah Martin)