NEWS RELEASE
ST. JOHN'S AMBULANCE
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It was an ordinary day at school for Adam Dowey, age 12, until recess when a schoolmate was injured. Adam, a St. John Ambulance youth member trained in first aid knew what to do. He alerted the on-duty teacher to the injured student and remained to assist the adults who were attending to the injured student. He showed calm leadership, and orchestrated getting a blanket and a gym mat to keep the student warm and off the snow until the ambulance arrived; and volunteered to collect the student’s coat, backpack and lunch kit from his classroom. Adam then waited with the staff for the ambulance, and later when back in class, suggested that the student’s teacher should be informed of the incident and took that on as well.
The fact that Adam stepped in to assist in helping this student is amazing and given the fact that he has autism adds to this touching story. With autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there are challenges and barriers at school that Adam faces every day. However, on this day, the training and social development of the St. John Ambulance Youth program provided an opportunity for Adam to show maturity and good leadership which the teachers noticed and appreciated; and the injured student also appreciated having a schoolmate there helping.
This April, Adam has volunteered with the Youth program at St. John Ambulance for one year. “Adam is a strong cadet in the program,” says Amber Legge, Youth Program unit coordinator. “He has always shown leadership and compassion. I am very proud that he applied his training to take charge of the situation, showing himself and others how important first aid can be.” Adam and his peers recently participated in a regional first aid competition in Richmond Hill, Ont. where youth teams are given a scenario and evaluated on their first aid and patient treatment skills. His family, and Youth leaders at St. John Ambulance have remarked on how well Adam responds to the opportunities to learn first aid and foster personal development through this program.
Adam will be a Star Student for April at the end of the month character assembly at his school. The St. John Ambulance Youth program is a weekly program run through the school year. For more information on volunteer opportunities contact St. John Ambulance Barrie Simcoe Muskoka (705) 726-0991 or visit www.sja.ca.
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