By LOU WHEELAND

Special to The Press

Upper Macungie Township sponsored a Junior Emergency Services Academy at Upper Macungie Station 56 the week of July 18-22.

The students learned about performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, negotiating with a suicidal individual with the Upper Macungie police Department, operating an aerial platform and rescue techniques.

Under the direction of Director of Fire/EMA Coordinator Peter Christ, the program provided a comprehensive introduction to what first responders face every day. EMS classes were taught by Cetronia Ambulance paramedics and included children and adult CPR and the Heimlich maneuver, immobilizing and splinting fractures, and bandaging.

They also learned how to prepare a patient for ambulance transport.

Firefighting techniques were taught by Upper Macungie Township firefighters from Trexlertown, Fogelsville and Upper Macungie Station 56.

The students learned how to properly put on and take off turnout gear, how to operate the platform of an aerial ladder truck, advance a hose line and rescue a “victim” from a smoke-filled dwelling.

Rescue techniques were taught by members of the Lehigh County Special Operations Team under the direction of Chief John Al-Kahl.

The students learned about the newest technologies to locate individuals trapped in void spaces, such as a building collapse.

They also toured the county’s heavy rescue truck and learned of its capabilities.

Upper Macungie Police Lt. Pete Nickischer and his colleagues introduced the students to the challenges of vehicle stops and encountering suicidal individuals.

Upper Macungie Police School Resource Officer Bill Rohrbach evaluated the students as they navigated an obstacle course with a golf cart.