'Rescuers’ use courage, confidence

Toledo Fire Department Capt. Bryce Blair, left, connectsa harness to Thomas Petrey. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER Enlarge | Photo Reprints

Rachael Cornell, 10, of Oregon grasped the railing on a rooftop 42 feet off the ground and leaned out over the edge.

The firefighter operating her harness told her to let go of the railing and grasp the rope. Her hands quivering, young Rachael tugged at the rope as the lieutenant told her to straighten her legs and lean back off the side of the building.

This was not the girl’s first time rappelling off this particular simulation building, but previously she had gone off the side, where the drop was less severe. Standing at the rooftop’s edge, she lost her nerve, clung again to the rail, told the lieutenant she was calling it quits, and climbed back around the railing to stand securely on the rooftop.

Next time she’d muster the courage. Young Rachael told her father, Michael Cornell, director of the Center for Emergency Preparedness at Owens Community College, she was determined not to give up.

Mr. Cornell is directing the second annual Heroes Youth Camp this week. A three-day affair that started Monday on Owens’ campus in Perrysburg Township, the camp exposes children ages 8 to 17 to the first-response work of emergency medical service, law enforcement, and fire personnel.

“We wanted to do something for the kids that was not only educational, but fun,” Mr. Cornell said, adding that he tries to plan one fun-filled, confidence-building activity per day in addition to safety tutorials. “It puts a big C on their chest,” he said, referring to confidence.

The camp’s activities include basic first aid and CPR classes; introductions to air ambulances, fire trucks, and hose lines, and firearm safety and crime-prevention demonstrations. Older participants — ages 13 through 17 — take the activities a step further as they explore rescue work for potential careers, said Blair Bryce, fire captain for Toledo Fire and Rescue and rope-rescue specialist, who was helping to run rope simulation.

The older children’s activities include riding along with a SWAT team in a mock bank robbery, shooting at targets with nonfirearm Airsoft trainers, and using the Jaws of Life tool to rescue a mannequin trapped inside a car.

They also learn to use fire extinguishers and participate in a structure-fire simulation.

Mr. Cornell said his students are quick to whip out their first aid kits when a friend gets a minor cut or scrape. They also learn about home fire safety and inspect their own houses to make sure extension cables are properly plugged in.

Next year, Mr. Cornell said he hopes to add another three-day camp themed “Crime Scene Investigation,” which will teach children how to be a detective and to work in a forensics lab. Children will be exposed to crime documents and will learn fingerprint and DNA tests. The Heroes camp will split into two groups, as Mr. Cornell said the program is generating more interest. This week, 27 children participated.

Older campers also take on more daunting feats. For example, the rappelling simulation used different starting heights by age. Because the firefighters and not the campers controlled the speed, it was technically termed “lowering.” Campers could tell the firefighters how fast they wanted to be lowered according to their comfort level.

“You have to commit right away,” said Captain Bryce of rappelling.

Mr. Bryce drew a distinction between rappelling and rock-climbing. The person who rappels must lean out from the high point at the start as opposed to a rock climber who starts with feet firmly on the ground and scales up a wall gradually.

Jacob Newis, 13, said he had fun rappelling down the 42-foot wall but admitted he was scared at first.

“When you first lean out over the edge, it feels like you’re going to fall,” he said.

The teen conquered his fear, and when his feet hit the ground, he was still in one piece.

Heroes Youth Camp provides a safe, controlled environment to expose children such as young Jacob to rescue work, Mr. Cornell said.

The camp costs $130.

Contact Zoe Gorman at: zgorman@theblade.com or 419-724-6050.