NORTHFIELD — Pioneer Valley Regional School students will have a chance to observe the working medical field first-hand following a semester-long fundraiser.
Students in Pioneer’s Intro to Medicine and Emergency Care classes are collecting the tabs from soda, seltzer and beer cans — along with pull tabs on soup and pet food cans — to donate to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield. The tabs will be redeemed for their aluminum value.
“So far we have collected 10 pounds of can tabs and lids,” said Ernest Abramian, who teaches the two classes.
Lucy Koester, a student in the Intro to Medicine and Emergency Care classes, spoke about the project during the Sept. 12 School Committee meeting.
“We are reaching out to as many people and local businesses as we can to receive additional donations,” she said.
Koester said Pioneer students have put up posters about the project around school, and the Intro to Medicine class will go to the elementary schools to put up more posters.
Come January, when the collection ends, students will take a field trip to the Shriners Hospital to donate the tabs in person. While there, students will speak with doctors and nurses for a first-hand look into the medical field.
“They’ll show them how to use some of the technology, and discuss all different types of procedures,” Abramian explained.
In the Introduction to Medicine class, students learn about various aspects of the medical field, studying everything from physical therapy and occupational therapy, to suturing and delivering babies, Abramian said. Additionally, students learn medical terminology.
For the Emergency Care class, students learn about responding to a number of emergency situations. For example, Abramian said students are taught how to check vital signs, stabilize bones or injuries and move patients out of dangerous spaces without causing more damage. They also learn about “SPIKES,” the six step protocol used by doctors to delivery difficult news.
Stephanie Mercorelli, a senior in the Introduction to Medicine class, said she is looking into medical programs for college next year and the elective class has been great for initial exposure to the medical field.
Abramian has professional experience in the medical field, and started the Introduction to Medicine class last year, which expanded this year as the program became more popular. These classes are available for students in grades nine through 12.
He said he also wants to create more classes. Potential expansions includes a future biomedical program and an extended medical terminology class.
Anyone who would like to donate tabs can drop them off at Pioneer Valley Regional School’s main office throughout the fall.
“Every donation helps,” Koester said.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 264.