I received a text this week from a respected friend. Austin Pitman reached out to invite me to an information meeting aimed at recruiting future first responders to the Scouting organization MedVents. Scouting Canada sponsors its oldest age group of members focused on emergency response skills and interests related to helping others. Growing up in Lambeth, I was a cub scout and then a scout in my early years. The experience instilled some valuable life lessons. And they weren’t limited to helping my elders across the street.
When I visited the group last spring in Delaware, I was asked to speak about my experiences as a first responder. That accomplished, I was curious to hear the members’ stories describing their future endeavours as responders. I was impressed with the conversations and their enthusiasm. Are you, as a parent or your older children, interested in learning about a future with the MedVents? Read my blog post from May 14, “Flashback.” The Venturers’ passion for their future struck me like high-octane fuel for a race car.
The 1st Deleware MedVents is strongly supported by the local Lions Club, providing a venue for meetings and assistance with equipment purchases. The evening included audio-visual presentations, hands-on displays and live demonstrations of mock emergency incidents using members’ skills and their first aid and rescue gear. Prospects for the MedVents and their parents were glued to the activities led by experienced Venturers. Leaders and members worked together, showing off well-practiced skills. I was impressed.
Decades ago, a leader in the London Fire service shared some wisdom when he said: “there is no bad education.” Thank you, Peter Harding! Recently, my daughter Lauren and I were talking, and she shared as profound a message as Chief Harding had imparted years earlier. We were discussing how young people must approach their future. I love this little gem that, of course, I will expand on using the analogy of a S'mores cookie. Why not?
What are three of the components of many careers, especially when I think of emergency responders?
Education: the cookie or foundation. You need all the technical information, training, practice and wisdom your mentors will share. That learning process never ends, so you never run out of dessert (I plan ahead). Without education, your life experience would likely only take you a short distance.
Experience: chocolate, a personal favourite. That’s the fix for most enthusiastic responders or, in some cases, folks driven to work as a responder. Their passion is fed by doing what they have been trained for. Emergency workers and I can’t forget dispatchers develop their collective strength through completing tasks they have been trained to handle. To be clear, your training only goes so far. Every situation is different, a variation on a theme for paramedics, whether you are responding to a heart attack, vehicle collision, the police a robbery, the fire service a multi-alarm fire or dispatchers bringing their resources to an incident. No two emergencies are the same, so their successful resolution adds to your repertoire of options to approach and resolve a situation, adding to your confidence.
And finally:
Perspective: the marshmallow. Yup, that sticky little thing that binds the first two ingredients. The understanding we gain during personal growth, applying our education and experience, then subsequent successes and failures guide our future behaviour. You can go through life, follow a career path or profession and survive with minimal perspective. A narrow view will slow you down every time. Your attitude, values and judgement you derive from the journey will define you every time. Now a first responder with all three components is off to the races. There will be many challenges along the way, but the earlier they are aligned, the better the outcome. The Scouting route is one way to get you on that path.
The MedVents meet regularly in Delaware, motivating their group with a focused objective. Austin, Jeff, Ryan, Mackenzie and more members generously share their skills and experiences to make Med Vents happen. So many life lessons members will experience with this group are transferable. There is no downside to being a Med Vent. Think seriously about volunteering with this scouting experience or encouraging your 14 – 26-year-old daughter or son to check out this opportunity. Open that door for a future responder.
Ps. I really do like S'mores!
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