The Creek County Ambulance Service partnered with Drumright's Central Tech to treat a large group of local students to a close-up view of a real ambulance and give them cause to think about possible careers in healthcare and emergency services.

The purpose of the partnership, according to Health Careers Certification Instructor Tammy Silkwood, "is to increase the students' awareness of the role of emergency medical technicians.”

Silkwood asked Emergency Medical Technician and Dispatcher Michael Snyder to organize a staff to prepare students for careers in the Health Industry. Snyder, a former HCC graduate from Central Tech, said he was eager to give back to the school.

“Central Tech has a great HCC program,” said Snyder. “The teachers are very helpful and really prepare you for the real world.”

Terry Martin, Colleen Pierce, Susan Jones, Gail Goins, Jason Dobson, and Wednesday Thomas offered a hands-on approach to daily EMT procedures. The staff also talked about EMT licensing, which is available at Central Tech.

Students participated in a drug buster activity in which they got to act out a real-life scenario and work with injured patients in a real ambulance.

“We wanted to show the students how they should respond to accidents they see everyday and prepare them for a career as a EMT,” said Silkwood.

Approximately 109 eighth, ninth, and tenth grade students participated in the program, which was open to students across Cimarron Valley.

For more information about the Central Tech EMT training program contact Judith Niles at 918-352-2551, ext.285.