Medical camp for teenagers will be offered Aug. 3-4 in Sikeston

SIKESTON -- Local high school students have the chance to catch a glimpse into the health field at a two-day camp offered in Sikeston.

Set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 3-4 at Sikeston Career and Technology Center, the 2016 Missouri Area (Health Education Center) Science and Health "MASH" Camps is offered to local teens in ninth through 12th grades.

"Some area schools don't have the resources as far as offering medical camp," said Sarah Jackson, program specialist for the Southeastern Missouri Area Health Education Center in Poplar Bluff.

If the teens are interested in being a nurse, doctor, dentist or other health-related profession, those will be highlighted at the camp, she said.

"Counselors always tell me how much they really appreciate us being there because if we weren't there, a lot of these kids wouldn't have any opportunities about learning about each of these jobs."

MASH Camps are also held in Steele and Poplar Bluff.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn what it's like to perform surgery, work in the emergency room and have a career in health care. For example, students will participate in hands-on learning activities that include: vital signs, CPR, first aid, suture on a banana, injections on oranges, cow eyeball dissection lab, oral health and more.

"The two-day camp gets students excited and interested about the health field," Jackson said.

In addition to the hands-on training, the teens will get to see a medical helicopter and ambulance and speak with EMTs and paramedics.

"We're not just sitting in a classroom all day," Jackson said.

MASH Camp is a collaborative effort of community partners including: the Southeastern Missouri Area Health Education Center, Sikeston High School and Three Rivers College of Nursing & Allied Health.

For the complete story, see the weekend edition of the Standard Democrat.