Students in John Paul II Catholic School’s Principles of Biomedical Science (PBS) class recently welcomed a special visit from Jasper County’s Medic 64, including Captain Clint, a 16-year veteran firefighter/paramedic, and Firefighter/Paramedic Jesse. Their visit provided an in-depth, real-world perspective on emergency medical services and helped students connect classroom learning to critical career pathways in healthcare and public safety.

“Our students were absolutely dialed in,” said PBS teacher Andi Shaw. “Captain Clint and Jesse didn’t just explain emergency medicine—they made it come alive. These are real-world scenarios our students study, and seeing them in action takes the lesson to the next level.”

The first responder team kicked things off with an overview of EMT vs. Paramedic roles. EMTs are trained in Basic Life Support (BLS)—think stabilizing, transporting, and vital sign monitoring. Paramedics, on the other hand, provide Advanced Life Support (ALS)—administering medications, reading EKGs, and performing advanced airway interventions.

“Scene safety is priority one,” explained Capt. Clint. “If the scene’s not safe, we can’t help anyone.” Students learned that responders immediately conduct a scene survey, followed by checks for the ABCs—Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. If needed, a secondary assessment is done, complete with a head-to-toe evaluation and recording vital signs.

Next up: cardiac and respiratory arrest. Students got a crash course in reading EKG strips, identifying shockable rhythms like ventricular fibrillation, and learning which heart rhythms require medication instead of defibrillation. “They were especially fascinated by the video scope we use to help insert an endotracheal tube,” said Mrs. Shaw. “It’s incredible technology and they were blown away.”

And what would an EMS visit be without a tour of the rig? All 11 students squeezed into the back of the bus (EMS slang for ambulance), getting a real sense of what it’s like to treat patients while the wheels are turning. “The kids were amazed at how compact everything was,” said Mrs. Shaw. “Captain Clint showed how every critical tool is within arm’s reach, but that working in such tight quarters can be a real challenge—especially on the move.”

The visit reinforced the power of hands-on, scenario-based learning, giving students a unique peek into careers in emergency medicine. “This experience helped our students see how their classroom learning applies directly to saving lives,” said Mrs. Shaw. “It doesn’t get more real than that.”