STUDENTS PREPARED
for the worst.
Jermaine Starlings, Aiken County Career and Technology Center and Silver Bluff High School senior When I woke up on Tuesday, June 18, 2003, I did not have the slightest idea that I would be involved in the rescue of accident victims. However, as Ms. Clarke, my Health Science instructor and HOSA advisor, fellow student Niquita Corley, and I traveled I-20 late that night on our way to the conference in Atlanta, we encountered just such an experience. Ms. Clarke was first to see the red, flashing emergency lights of a vehicle in the trees. We immediately turned around following the lights. Ms. Clarke, anxious to help, excited the car while it was still rolling and rushed toward the scene. Niquita and I followed. on other victims I returned to help the driver. While we assessed his injuries, he told us that he, along with everyone else, fell asleep and the van went into the median. The driver tried to pull the van back on the road and it crashed into the trees. At about that time, the ambulance arrived, and Ms. Clarke, Niquita, and I stepped aside and watched the pros at work. The EMTs were able to free all of the victims from the van. We stood near the van and waited for instructions if they needed our assistance. After the victims were treated and the helicopter and ambulance left the scene, we continued our trip to the HOSA National Leadership Conference. This was really an enlightening experience. Throughout the incident I was calm and could think coherently, which is a really good thing when faced with an emergency. I was honored to help that night and hope that the family makes a complete and speedy recovery.
At the scene, Niquita and I saw Ms. Carke in the trees, directing a little boy towards us with instructions for us to care for his minor injuries. At that time, I ran back to our car, which was parked in the grass and gravel alongside the interstate, and retrieved Ms. Clarke’s medical bag because we needed more Jermaine Starlings and Niquita Corley received the supplies. I handed Niquita equipment as she treated following thank you letter from the Warren injuries. The next victim was the driver’s mother. Her County Office of Emergency treatment was left to Niquita because I was Services. summoned by another rescuer to the back of the van where a back seat pinned another 2003 victim’s leg whose foot was through the June 19, s, window. e Stalling r. Jermain y and M nesday, ita Corle help Wed Ms. Niqu We got the seat loose but could not get it Dear r all your 0 in Warren fo 2 ank you entirely off the victim’s leg. After checking onally th ident on Interstate eople g to pers writin are still p eed. an acc I am h the v t there 2003, wit uring to know tha thers in time of n June 18, o ss ll as A. It is a nd to help ve not gone as we County, G above and beyo ha go gs would willing to r assistance, thin ou y Without ll but still doing we copter, y did. the they are eli d, y involve om the scene by h the famil fr date on own out As an up ho was fl father, w overy. the grand be of ad to rec can ever s a long ro ha or myself S~FIRE EMA~EM n County ntact me. If Warre co e, please assistanc .Ó hank you Again, ÒT
, Sincerely irector Wolfe, D S~FIRE ommy T MA~EM County E Warren
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