SAN ANGELO, TX — Students attending Angelo State University’s Summer Nursing Discovery Camp got an up-close look at real-world emergency response this week through a live AirMed1 helicopter landing and a simulated motor vehicle accident drill.
The events, held Tuesday and Wednesday on the ASU campus, gave campers exposure to pre-hospital care, including emergency medical services, trauma response, and hands-only CPR. The programming was part of a weeklong camp designed for high school students interested in healthcare careers.
San Angelo EMS Administrator Mason Matthews, whose department participated in the simulation, said giving students a first-hand look at the realities of emergency response is key to developing the next generation of healthcare workers.
“Anytime we can showcase what we do and show how much we love this job and encourage people to choose this profession, we’re all for it,” Matthews said. “We’re trying to build the next workforce.”
Matthews described the camp as an opportunity to demystify EMS and give students context beyond what they might see in textbooks or on television.
“You show up to work at 7 a.m. and possibly go on a cardiac arrest,” Matthews said. “The next call is someone’s broken their leg, and then the third call is someone’s having a baby — If you think about that, before 10 o'clock, you haven't even had breakfast."
Campers also gained CPR certification and participated in hands-on skills labs. Matthews spoke over the value of the hands-only CPR portion, which is now a statewide graduation requirement.
“It gives the layperson confidence,” he said. “It bridges the gap between something happening and when 911 arrives.”
ASU Nursing Camp Features Shannon AirMed1 Landing
Students like Tanisha Ganatra from Dallas and Cora Busch from New Braunfels said the exposure to real EMS scenarios was a major takeaway.
“It was kind of cool to see how a real-life situation would be,” Ganatra said. “Just seeing how this plays out in real life gives you more exposure.”
“I really like seeing how things actually play out, or how they’ll actually happen,” Busch said. “Reading from a textbook is kind of odd, because you don’t really get to see it happening.”
The camp also introduced many students to the idea of pursuing healthcare education at ASU.
“This is the only college I’ve actually gotten to visit,” Busch said. “So I’m definitely thinking about it.”
Angelo State’s Summer Nursing Discovery Camps continue through July and are open to rising 9th through 11th graders.
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