Prisma Health donates ambulance to C.A. Johnson High School

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Students at a local high school will soon be able to have hands-on experiences in emergency medical services — right outside their classroom door.

President of Prisma Health Baptist Hospital, Dr. Anthony Jackson, says the hospital’s donation of the decommissioned ambulance, a 2016 Ford F450 Type 1, is a continuation of their partnership with Richland School District One since the early 90’s.

“Having responded to thousands of 911 calls and playing a pivotal role in saving lives. Now, today, it will serve as a vital tool in training the next generation of healthcare professionals,” says Jackson.

Principal Brenton Coe believes the ambulance will give students in their health science magnet program hands-on experiences and help them foster greater interest in an array of healthcare professions, saying, “Our students and staff now have an opportunity to extend their learning, outside of the classroom.”

The ambulance will be stocked with essential supplies like wound care materials, oxygen delivery devices, oxygen tanks, spinal immobilization tools, and IV fluids.

After completing course work, Magnet Program Chair Sheron Capers says students will even be able to leave high school with an EMT certification.

They encourage students to think beyond their circumstances — whether they want to go straight to work after school, or go on to higher education.

“The idea is your journey is your journey. Your pathway is your pathway. Every student can be successful. And that’s what we try to instill in them right now, is that you don’t have to follow everybody else’s pathway. You can forge your own,” Capers says.

High school Junior Gabrielle Oden plans to forge her own path in psychiatry. She says the magnet program has helped prepare her for what’s ahead.

“Specifically just learning about the human body. And how we need to take care of ourselves to also take care of our mind and vice versa. There’s also been things like learning BLS and learning how to take vital signs, and how to take care of patients that I think is going to help me when I try to get to the point of being a psychiatrist,” Oden says.

She’s also excited to learn more about emergency services, saying, “I’ve seen ambulances just drive by, I’ve seen paramedics, and EMTs but you don’t really know what’s going on inside of there. You don’t really know what’s going on inside of there. You don’t really know what you have to do if there is a person in there. So I think it’ll be a really interesting experience, especially with the EMT class next year. I think it’ll be really fun as well.”