Patty Burr is packing up and getting ready for semi-retirement, after serving 34 years as physical education teacher at South Delta Secondary.
In addition to all the friends and memories made over the years, Burr is also leaving behind the First Responder program in which Grade 11 and 12 students study emergency medical skills, then use those skills to save lives or to start a career.
“It’s such a good program, such a good team. I’m really proud of what they do, what we’ve built together,” said Burr.
Burr started the program in 2017 as a way of helping out the two teachers at the school, of which she was one, who are considered first responders.
The first year, one student was in the program.
This year, 25 are part of the SDSS First Responders Team.
To become certified as a first responder, students take a total of 60 hours of Canadian Red Cross courses, a 20-hour first aid course, followed by a 40-hour first responder course.
That will lead to formal certification allowing them to treat people with concussions, bleeding, fainting, or sprained muscles or broken bones. Ambulances are called if it’s serious.
“There’s all sorts of things they attend to,” she said.
They’ve also received training in responding to opioid overdoses, using automated external defibrillators (AED), as well as administering Naloxone.
Once certified, students are given a pager then help out whenever they’re needed.
The school’s football trainer Daryl Ross has also showed the students how to tape injuries.
The hours spent training are considered work experience, one of the requirements for graduating, although next year, the courses will be part of the curriculum.
While they’re focused on the day-to-day of the classes, the first responders also carry a pager and are available for any emergency at the school, such as sports injuries.
“Many have made connections with the students they help, and ease the stress, as having a peer attend to your medical needs is reassuring,” Burr said.
Students have learned to be leaders, communicate and use their medical skill set in high-stress situations, she added.
The students also volunteer their time at football, rugby, basketball, school functions, track meets and the Terry Fox Run.
She noted some students also take the emergency medical responder course, which is more advanced than the first responder course. That often leads to careers in medicine.
Although Burr is retiring, she’s handing the program over to another teacher who’s also classified as a first responder.
“I have confidence it’s going to thrive. I’m just really proud of it. I’m proud of my students,” Burr said.
Other schools in Delta with a first responder program are, Seaquam, Delta Secondary and Delview.
