Kutztown Community Library celebrated Community Heroes during the “Every Hero has a Story” Summer Reading Program finale on Aug. 13.
“They are actually in action today in Kutztown keeping you safe,” said Joy Newswanger, Kutztown Community Library youth librarian. “Am I a hero? Yes. What is my number one skill at the library?”
Besides getting people excited about reading, Newswanger said her heroic skill is getting people to smile, noting the significance of her name, Joy. She swirled super heroic bubbles around the front of the room. “Does it make you smile? Is that heroic? Does that help people?”
The children all shouted, “Yes!”
Opening the Community Heroes program, Kutztown flight nurse Eric Bubbenmoyer with MedEvac talked about emergency response using a helicopter to get accident victims to the hospital faster than by ambulance. He encouraged the children and their grown ups to all wear their seatbelts when in a vehicle.
“Because if you are in an accident and you don’t have your seatbelt on, you have a much higher chance of ending up in the back of the helicopter with me than if you did have your seatbelt on,” said Bubbenmoyer.
He said a MedEvac helicopter flies about 150 miles per hour. A 25 minute drive from Kutztown by ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital takes about eight minutes by helicopter.
“That’s a big deal for people who are having a heart attack or who were involved in an accident or are having a stroke. We also can do things in the back of the helicopter that the folks in the ambulance can’t do. We have certain drugs that they can’t use and we have certain equipment that they don’t carry. It’s all real expensive stuff which is why there are not as many helicopters as there are ambulances,” said Bubbenmoyer.
Cheri Keim and Becky Rakowiecki of Kutztown Ambulance talked about responding to an emergency. Keim encouraged the children to call 9-1-1 if there is an emergency. She said the ambulance transports patients who need medical attention to the area hospitals. On the ambulance is a paramedic who can put a patient on a heart monitor, give medication, put an IV in and conduct other medical treatments.
“Dial 9-1-1 and an ambulance comes,” said Rakowiecki. “We’re going to come to your home or whereever you need an ambulance and we’re going to help you or your loved one feel better or get better. Then, we load the patient into the ambulance (and drive the person to the hospital).”
Kutztown Police Chief Craig Summers asked the children to tell him what police officers do. One answered, “Arrest people.” Another said, “They save people if they’re in trouble.” Another said, “Protect people.”
Summers said that is all correct. Officers also investigate and assist at the scene of a vehicle accident and conduct many other duties including first aid and respond to EMS calls and fires. He also showed the children some of his tools on his belt and uniform, including a recorder, radio, a baton, handcuffs, a taser and a pistol, the last two he did not take out and show to the children. He knocked on his belly while talking about the bullet resistant vest that he wears to protect himself from a gunshot.
Summers hopes the children learn that police officers are there to help and not to be afraid.
“Local heroes are everywhere,” said Summers. “People do a lot of different things to help people; it’s not just police and firemen, it’s a lot of people.”
Last, Kutztown firefighter Joe Tukovits and Lieutenant Matt Fuller showed children the firefighter gear. Tukovits demonstrated how fast a firefighter puts on 70 pounds of gear. Fuller talked about fire safety, including Stop, Drop and Roll; and never play with matches; and if there is a fire always have an emergency place to meet your family.
Then, everyone was invited outside to the nearby parking lot to view the Kutztown fire truck, ambulance and police vehicle.
