Somerset-Reading Twp EMS  hosted a “Little Patient’s-Big Skills” Pediatric Emergency Care Essentials Workshop at the Somerset Methodist Church Life Center on Oct. 10th,  2025

Chief Mike Henderson, from Somerset-Reading Twp EMS welcomed 36 participants from multiple surrounding counties.  Guests were treated to Pizza, and salad provided by John Bope of Bope-Thomas Funeral Home in Somerset.  Dessert was compliments of Ms. Carolyn Turnes.  

Kyle J Smith,MA who is the Project Coordinator for Ohio EMS for Children was the first speaker of the evening.  He was followed up by Chris Casey BS, EMT-P, EMIS-1 from Children’s Hospital that covered a power point of Pediatric Medical Emergencies.  Ms Carolyn Walker RN, EMT-P of Med Flight of Ohio did her presentation on Pediatric Trauma.  

The attendees were then given the opportunity to have hands on practice at 10 different skill stations. The number of pediatric runs is around 10% of the total runs per year for an EMS agency.  Having this workshop allowed  participants to practice those skills on pediatric mannequins so that when it’s the real thing it will come as second nature.  The skill stations offered were:  Pediatric High-Quality CPR, Basic Airway Management, Advanced Airway Management, Emergency Airways including Needle & Surgical Airways, IV and IO Access, Needle Chest Decompression, Nebulized Medications Use, Pediatric Allergic Reactions with Epinephrine Use, Pediatric Hypoglycemia with Glucagon Use and Pediatric Triage utilizing SALT for multiple Injured Pediatric Patients.

Special thanks to Chris Casey, and Chris Newsome of Children’s, Kaleigh Chambers of New Lexington, Joel Dickinson of Genesis,  Rich Charles of FMC, and Mark Doerfler of MidEast for helping out with the skill stations along with Annie Clouse, Derek Herges, Angel Lindsey, and Mandy Noll all from Somerset for helping out at the stations.  

Many months of planning went into this Pediatric Workshop.  After it was over Chief Henderson was asked if we might offer another one of these in the future.  His response was, “it was a lot of work, but if it saves 1 kid then it was worth it”!

On Saturday June 21 Perry County Camp Counselors attended a Stop the Bleed class at Camp Ohio 4-H Camp.   Somerset-Reading Twp EMS members Angel Lindsey Co-Asst Chief-Paramedic, and Michele Kopis Co-Asst Chief-EMT-B were joined with Keisha Amspaugh Chief-Paramedic, Hunter Baker Asst Chief-FF-EMT, and Eric Wetherell- FF Basic EMT of Mary Ann Twp , along with Brittany Shearer - Nurse, Mitch Smith -Nurse, and Pilot Relland Jones of Air Evac 107.  After watching a series of video slides the participants were able to practice the Stop the Bleed techniques that they had just learned. Each participant received a certificate, and a tourniquet from the Perry County Health Dept.  The crew from Air Evac 107 then welcomed the participants to head down to the landing zone to see their air ambulance to answer questions and to take pictures