Health Fair at Vincent Smith School

Students Learn Basics of How to Help in an Emergency

Vincent Smith School students held an all-day Health Fair where they learned the basics of first aid and safety, CPR and the use of a defibrillator. Students in grades 4-12 enjoyed the day filled with life-saving skills and a visit from the Flower Hill Ambulance Company.

Throughout the course of the day, students were immersed in hands-on activities that everybody should know. Students learned to apply a tourniquet to an injured limb; they practiced the skills necessary to perform the Heimlich maneuver; they completed basic CPR training; they learned to dress an open wound; and with the assistance of the Flower Hill EMT they saw how a patient’s vital signs are checked.

Students also watched a video about drunk driving that featured a girl who left a party drunk with two friends in her car to go pick up more beer. An accident occurs on the way and all three friends are hurt. A civil suit arises from the accident and the movie makes students question the accountability of the two friends who went with a driver they knew was drunk.

In Health classes students discussed peer pressure and the negative effects it can have on your health. Peer pressure has caused kids to try smoking, drugs, sex and other risky behaviors because it is believed that “everybody is doing it.” Students observed different scenarios and shared ways in which they have been pressured by their peers to do something they knew could have negative effects.

The North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System was kind enough to send Health Educators Joan Bush and Catherine Blotiau to share their knowledge with students and staff. They supervised several of the health stations that were set up on campus. Parent volunteers also played a major role in the day’s success.

Caption: Vincent Smith School students learn basic first and safety techniques at the school’s recent Health Fair.