Reprint from the Progress Times - October 5, 2007
©Progress Times 2007 - All Rights Reserved

LIFE LESSONS
Mission students learn exceptional lessons

 

Veterans Memorial High School students watched intently as the Valley Air Care medical evacuation helicopter circled overhead. Mission Fire Department personnel secured a safe landing zone for the emergency aircraft. With a loud whirring of the propeller, the helicopter gradually descended, landing on the front lawn of Veterans Memorial High School just after 1 p.m., Wednesday.

After the landing zone was declared safe, 22 high school students quickly gathered next to the helicopter. The students are members of the Mission CISD EMT basic training program which allows them to earn college credit hours and prepare for EMT National Certification while still in high school.

Janelle Billings, EMT instructor at South Texas College, teaches the dual enrollment class at the VMHS campus. She said, through this exercise, students learned operational guidelines for preparing a safe landing zone for an air ambulance and other lesson objectives.

The students listened closely as Valley Air Care flight paramedic Juan Galvan described what type of patients are considered for air transport and under what conditions. He explained that time is of the essence in many medical emergencies, such as a stroke or heart attack victim.

After showing the students the specialized medical equipment aboard the helicopter, Galvan described the benefits of night vision goggles that light up the darkness for the pilot and crew.

The students wanted to know what kind of training was required to become a flight paramedic like Galvan. He explained that not just any paramedic can do his job. One must have two years experience as a lead medic on a ground crew before he is eligible to become a flight paramedic.

The air ambulance is available for calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a crew prepared to respond on a moment’s notice. The aircraft is housed in Harlingen, near Valley Baptist Medical Center, and serves a broad area of South Texas, stretching from Laredo to Port Aransas to South Padre Island.

Sergio Pena, MCISD director of Career and Technology Education Programs, said this is just one of 22 programs with dual enrollment provided by the district through a special arrangement with South Texas College. Other programs include nursing, auto technician, child care, manufacturing, drafting and many more.

These programs provide multiple opportunities for students to earn college credit, Pena said. Students taking advantage of these programs will have to spend less time and less money to earn an associates or four-year degree.

"I have a passion for ensuring the opportunity for our kids is as wide ranging as possible," Pena said.