From small scratches to resuscitation: at the school paramedics' practical day, students and teachers were given a comprehensive insight.
Around 300 participants from all over Bavaria came to the Puchheim secondary school for this event.
There could have been more if the gym hadn't been closed.
Puchheim – Not in the mood – Gurjaap has been an enthusiastic school paramedic since elementary school.
He has to apply plasters or give first aid to schoolmates about twice a week.
He routinely treats minor injuries.
“It’s great to be able to help others,” says the eighth-grader, who attends the Puchheim secondary school.
The Bavarian aid organizations' school medical service practical day recently took place here.
When every second counts
Thanks to students like Gurjaap, Marc Andree doesn't have to worry about running out of staff as head of the school paramedics.
“I always have 15 people in my team,” says the English and sports teacher.
Often these are young people whose parents work in the medical field or whose siblings also work as school paramedics.
Nevertheless, knowledge always needs to be refreshed – for students and teachers.
On the practical day, around 25 workshops offer a wide range.
It's about very banal stomach aches, but also about sports injuries or drug emergencies, the correct behavior in a disaster emergency and legal basics.
The workshop “Emergency Presentation – Miming and Make-up” is about how you can make an emergency look as real as possible for practice purposes.
“The mime should have as little hair as possible where you want to apply plasters or bandages,” explains course leader Carsten Muck, earning a smile from the audience.
Because everyone knows what it feels like when you rip off a band-aid.
“But it’s good to be reminded of it,” says one participant.
Because the well-being of the mime comes first, says Muck.
This especially applies to difficult exercises such as rescue from a lake.
Every second counts for Lukas Binder.
He explains to some students how to perform cardiac and pulmonary resuscitation and how to use a defibrillator correctly.
But he also points out that as a first aider you should recognize your limits.
“If it becomes too stressful, if you become unfocused, stop.”
Nevertheless, you can still ask bystanders to continue to provide help.
“And almost everyone has a smartphone with them these days so that they can request further support.” Above all else, it is important to bridge the time until professional emergency services arrive.
And not to put yourself in danger.
Aid organizations promote themselves
300 participants from all over Bavaria took many valuable tips with them from the practical day into everyday life at their school.
There could have been 500 if the current local conditions around the secondary school had permitted it.
“Because the gym is closed, we had to cap it,” said Florian Rößle, main organizer of the practical day and education officer at the Bavarian Youth Red Cross.
Nevertheless, the number of participants confirms that the school medical service in Bavaria basically does not have to worry about members.
At the same time, the event also offers other aid organizations the opportunity to advertise on their own behalf.
The Puchheim fire department is on site, as are the technical relief agency and a rescue dog team.
And so Thomas Rapp is repeatedly involved in conversations with young people.
The district manager of the Malteser will be happy to provide information.
“Anyone who is a school paramedic already has a basic interest in helping and volunteering,” says Rapp.
Many young people who come to his organization have previously worked as school paramedics.
You can find even more current news from the Fürstenfeldbruck district at Merkur.de/Fürstenfeldbruck.