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LEBANON, ME - The Lebanon Rescue Department held its 7th Annual Safety Day at the Hanson School on Friday, June 5, 2009. Rescue volunteers spent three hours at the school teaching approximately two hundred students on various safety topics, including bicycle safety, wearing seat belts, wearing helmets on bicycles and all terrain vehicles, water safety and how to dial 9-1-1. Every Lebanon first and second grader attended the safety fair.

The students watched as a fellow student in each group was back boarded and collared and then placed on the ambulances stretcher. “We do this so students see it in a controlled environment so that they aren’t scared when someone needs to do it for real. The students were great, they all wanted to see how it was done and touch the equipment. “ Chief Samantha Cole stated.

After having an education session inside, the students followed the rescue volunteers outside where the ambulance and first response vehicle were located. The students took tours of the ambulance and saw the equipment commonly used at emergency scenes.

“The students asked a lot of great questions and seemed to have a really good time learning about the various safety topics. Several students have been transported in the ambulance and seemed to enjoy being in the back learning about safety, and not as a patient.” Chief Cole added.

Rescue volunteers then ate dinner at the school with some of the students. “Kids kept coming up to us and telling us how cool the ambulance was and several said they wanted to be on the rescue when they get older.” Chief Cole added.

“The best part of the day was when I responded to a medical emergency call on Friday evening and one of the students from the days safety classes was riding his bicycle on Center Road. The student was wearing his helmet. After the call, I stopped by his driveway where he was standing there waving. He came up to the rescue truck and said I never wore my helmet before. He thanked us for going to his school and the “cool” stuff he got.” Assistant Chief Jason Cole added.

Each student that attended the safety fair was presented with a bag of safety materials and goodies. The bags contained an activity book for all different types of safety and learning about ambulances, a first aid guide for children, stickers, a temporary “EMT” tattoo and a Lebanon Rescue plastic helmet.

“We have always focused a great amount of time on public education programs. By going into the schools and teaching the students about several different safety programs, we hope to reduce serious injuries to the children. The students all seem to really enjoy the programs and we have noticed when we have had to transport children that have gone through these safety fairs, they are not as scared and quickly become friends with the EMT’s. We seem to gain their trust and when we see them around town, they say that they know us. The children make it worth it. We have also attended several daycares and senior events this year.” Chief Samantha Cole added. “We will do about 15-20 community education classes a year including school safety, CPR Classes, senior safety classes and more. One of the biggest events we hold each year is the EMS Open House and Halloween Safety Night held at the rescue station the night before and Halloween night. This past year was the 5th Annual and we had over 300 people attend. The volunteers love doing the education and safety details.”

Last year Lebanon Rescue volunteers donated over 14,000 manpower hours to the community with emergency response and community events. Volunteers stand by at sporting events, recreation events and large gatherings to make sure everyone is safe.

Today’s volunteers included Chief Samantha Cole, Assistant Chief Jason Cole, Lieutenant Diane Elliott, EMT Marie Frizzell, Annette Thibodeau, Neil Bailey and Sam Roper.

We would like to thank Principal Thomas Ledue and the staff at the school for allowing the rescue volunteers to come into the school and teach the safety lessons.