By Daniel Haynes NREMT-P, EMD
Public Affairs and Marketing
AMR-Monroe, La.
Every community has its “change agents” — activists dedicated to enhancing citizens’ quality of life, often focused on those with the least resources.
Pete Turner of Monroe, Louisiana, is such an activist. He has been the executive director of the city’s Boys and Girls Club for 40 years.
Dozens of youngsters from impoverished families benefit from the club’s programs annually — including one coordinated by us, where we help train the group’s staff in CPR and first aid. And for a few years now, we’ve provided a scholarship for older club members to take EMT training.
However, Mr. Turner wasn’t content just to run a strong Boys and Girls Club. He looked at the blighted neighborhood containing the club, named Tri-City Subdivision, and resolved to rebuild it. It was his dream that the kids at the club — many of whom lived in those run-down houses — would have a safer and healthier environment.
Mr. Turner persistently raised funds for his dream and eventually rebuilt 15 homes. Still, he wanted to be sure the families in those homes were prepared for emergencies.
When Mr. Turner approached us to see what could be done, we were eager to help. Our paramedics now provide the residents of Tri-City with training in CPR and first aid. Mr. Turner’s organization required occupants of the rebuilt homes to take the training as part of its pact to keep the neighborhood safe and healthy.
We have timed our classes to fit residents’ work schedules. If a resident can’t read, our instructors review contents of videos or training booklets out loud.
Good results have flowed from our effort. Residents have a good grasp on how to help us help them. When emergencies strike, they call 9-1-1 early. House numbers are easy to find. Medics have less reason to be anxious on entering that neighborhood. And it’s helped to create an even closer bond between ourselves and the Boys and Girls Club.
Nationwide, many Boys and Girls Clubs are in neighborhoods with higher incidence of trauma, heart attack, stroke and other emergencies. Parents who send their children to the clubs know they foster wholesome personal growth. Whether the neighborhood is rebuilt or not, any ambulance service can partner with their Boys and Girls Club as we have in Monroe.
Because children are our future, there’s no better place to invest. And, if the Boys and Girls Club isn’t a good fit for an ambulance operation’s outreach, there are plenty of other individuals and groups with worthwhile projects such as Mr. Turner’s.