Junior police academy cadets receive first aid/CPR training

The Town of Warwick Junior Police Academy’s second class of cadets for Summer 2024 are in their final week of training. On Tuesday, the cadets received CPR and first aid training led by an instructor from the Hudson Valley CPR Learning Center, Kelly Lee Pikul. Ms. Pikul is the EMS-14 District 4 Coordinator and volunteers with local volunteer ambulance corps.

Ms. Pikul began her lesson by explaining the meaning behind the symbol used to identify emergency medical services and personnel, the “Star of Life.” We’ve all seen the popular  symbol at one time or another, with its blue six-pointed star outlined by a white border. In the middle is the “Rod of Asclepius,” a common symbol of medicine depicted as a snake encircling a rod. Students learned that the six branches of the star represent the six phases of an EMS response:

1. Detection
2. Reporting
3. Response
4. On-Scene Care
5. Care in Transit
6. Transfer to Definitive Care

“You are detecting when you notice a friend having an asthma attack,” instructed Ms. Pikul. “When you call for help, then you are reporting.”

Ms. Pikul also had with her different medical devices and techniques used in a variety of emergency medical situations, including how to apply a tourniquet and using such emergency measures as Narcan, rescue inhalers, and EpiPens. She explained how these medications are administered and emphasized exercising care while using them.

Tuesday’s lesson helped the cadets grasp the scope and importance of emergency medical services in a community, and gain an understanding of how multiple emergency provider agencies coordinate within a community to support the well-being of its people. Along with the important civic aspect of the day’s activities, the students learned valuable lessons about staying calm in the face of an emergency, how to best handle emergent situations, and some valuable first aid and CPR basics. 

Thank you to the Town of Warwick Police Department and our district’s School Resource Officers for another great summer of Junior Police Academy. The second class of cadets for 2024 graduates on Friday, August16!