The local rescue squad was the focus of Wednesday's activities for Paintsville Elementary's Summer Camp 2000, with chief Keithen McKenzie lecturing students on basic first aid techniques and rescue squad members demonstrating various equipment used by emergency responders.

"We want kids to become acquainted with us," McKenzie said, referring to rescue squad members. "We don't want them to be afraid of us."

The rescue squad chief explained that children injured in car accidents and other mishaps are often traumatized by the ordeals, and that a "bunch of strangers," or emergency responders, storming the scene and trying to assess the situation only adds to the children's horror.

That's why, McKenzie says, the rescue squad has conducted the demonstration each year for the students attending the camp.

The live demonstration consisted of rescue squad members extricating four "victims" from a wrecked vehicle and explaining to the children, step by step, what typically happens on any accident scene.

Personnel with the rescue squad used various mechanical devices, such as the jaws of life and other metal and glass-cutting equipment during the demonstration.

McKenzie also explained to the youths about precautions taken for the victims' and rescue squad members' safety during rescue attempts.

"We want you to know that we're there to help you," McKenzie said.

Following Wednesday's demonstration of an extrication, the rescue squad chief told the students, "you've heard the noises the equipment makes, so don't be afraid."

Another demonstration included rappelling techniques and equipment used to rescue victims over hillsides and cliffs.

Rescue squad member Tim Cook demonstrated his ability with the ropes and showed students how emergency responders stabilize patients in baskets before they're lifted to safety.

Following Wednesday's demonstrations, the children were given the opportunity to inspect all of the rescue squad's equipment and were even given the chance to operate some of it.

Prior to the live demonstration, McKenzie lectured the students about when to call 911 and basic first aid techniques, such as applying pressure to open wounds to stop bleeding and "abdominal thrusts," or the Heimlich maneuver for choking victims.

McKenzie also illustrated how to expel objects from choking infants.

"This saves lives more than anything else, because children get choked," the rescue squad chief said. "And, more times than you'd think, children are the ones who save the lives by learning these basic steps."

Other demonstrations available for the students included "air bags" used to lift vehicles off victims and scuba diving gear used in underwater rescue attempts.

This year's camp at Paintsville Elementary involves two programs: space camp and pre-med camp, according to school Family Resource Center Director Elizabeth Brunner.

Pam McKenzie and Janie Lemaster teach the camp's pre-med program, and Sherri Coleman and Shirley Mason instruct students in the space camp.