JESSUP, Pa. — From identifying internal injuries to search and rescue operations, representatives from 4-H clubs across the commonwealth gathered inside the Lackawanna County Center for Public Safety in Jessup to learn more about emergency preparedness and how to teach it.
"So it just kind of reinvigorates that point of personal preparedness in our communities," said Angie Smith, the PA State 4H Program Director.
The My Preparedness Initiative is a national program taught in 32 states, including Pennsylvania.
Its mission centers around youth emergency Preparedness through hands-on training and classroom work.
The goal is to get the next generation of first responders engaged in this work from a young age.
"It's not just Germane to the Keystone State. Volunteering is dropping all around this country," said Dave Nichols, an instructor and Co-founder of MyPI Program. "We're teaching them the importance of volunteerism. So we're doing it at a younger level, establishing a new culture that has been lost."
But before students can learn what to do, educators need to figure out how to teach it first.
This hands-on training in fire safety and suppression and emergency scenario re-enactments will help 4-H directors incorporate a new piece of learning into their programs.
"This works beautifully with 4H with our principles of being um independent, being community-minded, and community service. So this is a really good blend for us," said Tammy Miller, a Susquehanna County 4-H Educator.
While also inspiring a new generation of volunteers.
"You don't have to be willing to run into a burning building to be valuable," said Christine Corl, a Huntington County 4H Educator. "When an emergency is happening, there are all sorts of jobs and roles for people to do. And I think this just helps us to teach kids that."
The My Preparedness Initiative program at the Lackawanna County Center for Public Safety runs through Thursday.