Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 16, 1995 TAG: 9501170047
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: EXTRA EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: NANCY GLEINER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Age: 17
School: Cave Spring High School, Roanoke County
Year: Senior
What she does: Whitney is a first lieutenant on the junior crew at the Cave Spring Rescue Squad in Roanoke County.
Whitney, who is interested in a career in the medical field, wanted to get involved in rescue work. She joined the junior crew (for those under 18) after completing Emergency Medical Technician training, a requirement for membership on the squad. Training included approximately 100 class hours and a national certification exam.
As first lieutenant, Whitney is in charge of recruiting other junior members, and she is closing in on the squad's available spaces.
She is on call every eighth night, but Whitney can be found at the facility almost every evening - ``I go there a lot''- often taking classes for more certification and, sometimes, going out on calls when extra help is needed.
``I get to do more than most people think,'' she said. ``If we're on a basic life-support call, all EMTs work together and are treated equally. They [the senior crew] give us a lot of credit.''
Whitney has helped deliver babies, performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, assisted paramedics and recently revived a 14-month-old child who had stopped breathing.
``I had just finished a class, and a call came in. The on-call team was out, so they needed extra help. I was the first one into the house and started CPR on the baby. He started breathing again. We just got a letter from the mother saying the baby's doing fine.''
Her most difficult moment came the first time someone could not be saved. ``You know you're going to see that,'' she said, ``but the first time really strikes you.''
In nominating Whitney, her grandmother, Frenchie McKee of Salem, said, ``She's put her heart and soul into doing things for other people. Whitney`s given up dates and parties, and I'm impressed with the time she donates to the rescue squad.''
``Junior crew members are often called on to do some pretty adult things,'' said Joe Coyle, junior-crew adviser and cardiac technician on the squad. ``Whitney handles them like a pro.''
Whitney says she's learned that in high stress situations, ``instinct takes over. You panic later.''
School activities: With a part-time job at Country Bear Day School every afternoon and tougher classes in preparation for college, as well as the rescue squad activities, Whitney has had to curtail many of her school activities. Formerly, she was a member of the Key Club and Students Against Drunk Driving and played varsity tennis.
Other activities: Whitney volunteers in the emergency room at Lewis-Gale Hospital in conjunction with her EMT classes. She will become a volunteer with the TRUST crisis intervention hotline and is in the mentorship program at Cave Spring High. For this, she will be working for class credit in Community Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.
What she's learned: ``I started at the rescue squad because I thought it would help me when I pursue a medical career. Now, I like the rewards of helping other people.''
Obstacles: ``Time, definitely.''
\ This twice-monthly column spotlights a teen-ager who is using his or her own initiative to make a difference in our neighborhoods, schools and communities. We think they deserve a public thank-you for helping other people. Nominations are sent in by our readers (see guidelines below).
\ Extra Credit nominees must be 12-18 and volunteering of their own choice. If part of a group, the teen must have initiated the activity.
Send in the teen's name, age, phone number, what they're doing, for how long, and how it has helped someone else. Mail nominations to Extra Credit, c/o Features Department, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010
by CNB