Science Hill School hosts First Responders Day to spark interest in students to serve

May 13—On Monday afternoon, police, firefighters, EMS workers and even tracking dogs descended on Science Hill School — and the kids had a great time with them all.

For the first time, Science Hill School held a "First Responders Day," to let students see equipment and personnel up close and, officials hope, spark an interest in one day being in uniform themselves.

"Cloyd Bumgardner (administrative assistant for Pulaski County Government) approached us about maybe doing something that would help some of the local volunteer fire departments and EMS in the county take care of some shortages that they've got," said Science Hill Superintendent Jimmy Dyehouse. "We thought that this might be a good way to start recruiting at a young age."

Glen Bland, Science Hill's School Resource Officer, made use of his contacts in the law enforcement community after working for 22 years in the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office and helped pull together a substantial number of agencies willing to take part.

They included the Science Hill Police Department, Science Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Somerset Fire Department, Pulaski County Sheriff's Office, Somerset-Pulaski County EMS, Kentucky State Police, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rangers, PHI Air Evac, the Kentucky Bureau of Prisons, and the Pulaski Fire Commission.

"They're all just kind of sharing with the kids as they come through what they do for a living, how their job works, talking about their vehicles," said Dyehouse. "Glen was able to get a hold of the medical helicopter; (it is) very popular, especially with our little kids. They're letting them get up on the helicopter and look at it. ... And also, Pulaski County Sheriff's Office brought their helicopter."

Groups of students from kindergarten through eighth grade from different grades came out at different times and rotated through each station, talking to the representatives of the various agencies.

"It's never been done in the county before; this is the first time for anybody," said Dyehouse.

Bland said he knew children would love being around the trucks and helicopters and all the other vehicles and equipment — and even animals, as the Department of Corrections brought bloodhounds trained in tracking that enjoyed getting plenty of hands-on attention from the students.

"(These responders) are all wonderful people, they love children, many of them with children here in the school," said Bland.

He added, "In the last five to 10 years, first responders — particularly the police — have taken quite a beating, and I thought the easiest way to rebuild that rapport as citizens was to start at the level of children."

Patrick Richardson, Pulaski County Schools Superintendent, also came to Science Hill to check the event out in case his district wanted to do something similar in the future. He too had spoken with Bumgardner about the possibility of a First Responders Day, and Bumgardner invited him to come to Science Hill's event.

"I've really enjoyed it, and think it will be a really good thing for our county," said Richardson, who said they're planning on doing at least one First Responders Day in the county district next year, so "we can do our part as far as helping spread the word that these types of positions are out there, and be able to share those opportunities with our kids."

Bumgardner was pleased with how the event turned out on Monday and expressed an appreciation to Science Hill School for hosting the First Responders Day.

"I serve on one of the volunteer fire boards, and we need a large number of good, quality people who are willing to volunteer their time," he said. "Numbers are decreasing across the board in your first responder services. So this would help educate the children that these are opportunities for them as they get a little older."

Those who came to participate and talk to the kids appreciated the ability to do so on Monday.

"It's been a good time; we love coming out here and doing these types of things, connecting with the kids and giving back to the community," said Kentucky State Police Trooper Corey Jones, a former Pulaski County Schools student himself.

He noted that he and others like him are there to show kids that law enforcement isn't as scary as younger people might think, and hopes to plant the seeds that inspire youth to consider the profession themselves.

"One day, these kids may be in this position, and whenever I'm retired, they're going to be there helping possibly my grandkids, my children," he added. "(We need) somebody to take that role whenever my time is over. I see that as very important."

Science Hill Fire Chief Josh Whitis says that it's a challenge these days to recruit people into emergency services, especially on the volunteer side, so they want to take "any chance we can get to make an impression when they're younger, and hopefully in a few years, they'll maybe look at this as something that they're interested in. It could pay off in the future, and that's what we're hoping for."

Whitis noted that the Science Hill Fire Department likes to be involved with the community as much as they can, including the school. This can be beneficial not just for potential future recruits but in the event of emergencies as well.

"It gives us a good chance to get out and talk to them, to get to know the school staff even better," he said. "In case we ever do have anything in the future, we have a much better relationship with them going into it."