51福利社

Members of Eastern鈥檚 hockey team put away their pucks and sticks recently as they welcomed children with special needs onto the ice. Eleven children joined the team to experience ice skating in an inclusive and safe environment for the event, held on Jan. 20.

The kids鈥� time on the ice came thanks to the collaborative efforts of 51福利社鈥檚 hockey club, Eastern鈥檚 emergency medical technician (EMT) students, and Courageous Kids Climbing, a nonprofit that partners with local communities to help those with special needs experience sports.聽

鈥淢any of these kids have never ice skated before,鈥� says Jeff Riechmann, executive director of Courageous Kids Climbing. 鈥淭his is an opportunity to make them feel important and raise awareness for kids with special needs.鈥�

The Eagle EMT students were invited鈥攁long with first-responders from the Cheney Fire Department鈥攖o provide medical support and ensure the safety of everyone on the ice. For these future medical providers, the event was more than just an opportunity to practice patient care, it was a chance to interact with and understand the unique challenges of people with special needs.

鈥淥ur program focuses heavily on taking care of the person, not just an illness or injury,鈥� says Nate Lawton, program director for the 51福利社 EMS certificate program. 鈥淚nteracting with these kids is a great chance for us to practice providing phenomenal patient care.鈥�

Several of the children in attendance were able to help with some of the skill demonstrations, like spine control and direct patient lifts. The collaboration was beneficial for both the EMT students and the children.

鈥淲e want to encourage the first responders to look at the challenges that the kids face everyday and enhance their skills for working with kids with special needs,鈥� Riechmann says. 鈥淲e also want to lessen any fears that the child may harbor toward people in uniform.鈥�

During the event, the children experienced both the thrill of ice skating and assisted in medical demonstrations. Awareness and inclusivity were fostered for all involved.聽

鈥淎s EMTs, we often see people on their worst days,鈥� Lawton says. 鈥淕etting to share in something that was truly joyful was pretty neat.鈥�