THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 13, 1995 TAG: 9510110256
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02P EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
Jay Cirillo stood by a compact car and shouted to the three people standing next to it.
``We have two victims. Let's go. Get them out!''
Rae Ann Salvador, Tammy Cherry and Micheal Moreau got busy before the words were out of Cirillo's mouth. The smallest member of the three rescuers, Rae Ann, 14, reached into the driver's side, raised the victim's head and carefully placed a cervical collar to immobilize the victim's neck. They lifted the injured onto gurneys and placed them in the Davis Corner Volunteer Rescue Squad ambulance.
``In car extrication, you want the smallest person to reach inside the car,'' said Cirillo. ``You communicate with the injured to get an idea of the injuries and assess the situation.''
The ``victims'' were actually manikins and the rescue personnel were high school students learning how to treat injured people. The practice took place at Fire Station No. 1 on Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base with Cirillo as instructor.
Meanwhile, three more fire and rescue Explorers were readying a fire engine pumper truck to quell a mock fire. Non-toxic smoke came billowing out from a first floor room. The young trainees pulled on their yellow firefighter uniforms, stretched the hose from a hydrant and entered the room.
All six young people are members of an Explorer fire and rescue team. They are students who plan careers in firefighting or emergency medical services and they meet every Tuesday and one Saturday a month to gain practical experience.
The early training was the brainstorm of Cirillo, a former New York City firefighter and emergency medical technician. He started the program a year ago.
High school guidance counselors forward names of students they think may be interested in the fire and rescue Explorer training, then Cirillo begins recruiting.
A former Navy enlisted man, he found out about the program through the plan of the day on his last ship. ``I saw a letter about the fire and rescue area of Scouting,'' Cirillo said. ``I'd been active in Scouting in New York and wanted to here.''
According to Chelsea Senter, 17, a senior at Cox High School, the training fits with her future vocation. ``Very much so,'' she said. ``I plan to go to Virginia Tech and take pre-med. If I don't become an emergency room doctor, I'd like to become an EMT.''
Michael Moreau, 16, is interested in being an emergency medical technician, too. The Bayside High School junior called the fire and rescue work ``great experience.''
``Jay shows the right way to do all the procedures and he makes learning interesting and fun.''
Also in the group is Robert Runyon, 15, who is a sophomore at Bayside. At the Saturday training, Runyon entered the smoky room and pulled a victim of smoke-inhalation to safety and ministered to the ``victim.''
Chris Halstead, 19, attends the Vocational-Technical Center, where he is studying to be a nurse.
``This training will add to the nursing course I'm taking and give me practical experience,'' he said. MEMO: For information on the fire and rescue Explorers, call 468-4240.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY EDWARDS
Jay Cirillo, right, watches Chris Halstead, 19, left, and Tammy
Cherry, 16, work an ``accident scene.''
by CNB