ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. — A volunteer group known as “The Memaw Brigade” is lending a hand in first responder training.
These seniors, grandmothers and grandfathers, simulate medical emergencies to help the St. Charles County Ambulance District train first responders to better assess fall injuries, WRDW reports.
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Millions of ER visits and about one million hospitalizations each year are due to falls, according to the CDC, underscoring the need for this hands-on training.
“The geriatric population is our number one fall patients,” Training Officer Jaclyn Kloecker said. “So what I like to do is actually use real-life patients, and they came out and volunteered with us.”
New Perspective in Weldon Spring, a senior living facility, has hosted EMT training sessions featuring Memaw Brigade volunteers. Participant Sofia Bax portrayed a sepsis patient, highlighting the need for responders to stay skilled and prepared to safely assist older adults.
“I think it’s great,” Bax said. “They have to stay knowledgeable. They have to be able to pick us old people up.”
About 400 paramedics and firefighters in the St. Charles County Ambulance District have completed the Memaw training.
