Puyallup Medical Explorers See Emergency Medicine, Crisis Management First-Hand

In a medical emergency, having a doctor around can be crucial. During a lahar or other natural disaster, communication with neighbors, police and the government is imperative.

But in times when there is no doctor, no power or no direction, what do you do?

A group of local students have taken the initiative to empower themselves with emergency management knowledge through Medical Explorers 905, a certification and education program offered to high school students through Central Pierce Fire and Rescue.

“They learn how to take care of themselves and how to take care of each other and their neighborhoods during disasters,” said Randy Stephens, from Central Pierce Fire and Rescue. “It’s a great opportunity for leadership development—the students are held to a higher standard, just like any firefighter or police officer.”

The year-round program gives teens across Pierce County (9th-12th grade) the opportunity to explore the medical field through disaster drills and classroom learning. Students must maintain a high GPA to participate.

Central Pierce “adopted” the program in Nov. 2012 from Good Samaritan Hospital, where it existed for 40 years. There are currently 34 students enrolled in the program, with a few seniors graduating this year.

“The program was starting to flounder a bit,” said Stephens. “We’ve since taken it and developed it into a full-rounded medical career exportation program, similar to the Police Explorers program. It’s a tremendous asset to the community.”

Program graduates get their first-aide, CPR and AED certifications and learn how to take vital signs and help others with breathing difficulties, or during a heart attack.

Puyallup mayor Rick Hansen recently honored the explorers at the March 5 city council meeting for their participation in a Puyallup Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) exercise in January.

They helped role play in a mass-casualty scenario where they were treated as victims by the CERT team.

Stephens said many enter the program because they are interested in a career in the medical field, but some do it and realize early it’s not for them.

“We have one student who has been with the program for almost three years, and she realized she doesn’t like the technical field stuff—she wants to be a journalist in the medical field,” said Stephens. "It gives students a realistic idea of what the job entails."

For more information about becoming a Central Pierce Medical Explorer, call the CPFR Prevention & Education division at 253-538-6402.