Mercy Flight, Extraction, and Trauma Care: Pioneer High EMT Class Gets Pro-Level Experience

Yorkshire, NY - High school emergency medical students stepped out of the classroom and onto the drill ground Saturday, October 10, 2026, as the Yorkshire Fire Department hosted an intensive, full-day practical training evolution to conclude National Fire Prevention Week.

The department welcomed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) students from Pioneer High School for an immersive, hands-on clinic designed to bridge foundational medical coursework with real-world, high-stress emergency response. Throughout the day, students cycled through specialized technical and medical stations led by experienced responders.

Curriculum tracks covered vital emergency medical interventions, including high-flow hemorrhage control through "Stop the Bleed" tourniquet and wound-packing methods, advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) protocols, and live mechanical chest compression demonstrations utilizing the LUCAS device. Students also explored air medical evacuation logistics, LZ (landing zone) safety, and patient handoff coordination alongside personnel from Mercy Flight.

The session culminated in an active vehicle extrication evolution, where the high schoolers suited up to observe and participate in vehicle stabilization, glass removal, and the deployment of heavy hydraulic rescue tools to access trapped victims.

Yorkshire Command credited a broad collaborative effort for making the youth mentorship event possible, extending special thanks to Cattaraugus County EMS Coordinator Bobby Kuhn, flight crews from Mercy Flight, and responding volunteer personnel from the neighboring Chaffee-Sardinia Fire Department.