Brandon Kathman For Immediate Release:
Sr. District Executive 10/17/2022
(947) 886-5736
First responders share skills with local Scouts
Over 125 Scouts from across southeastern Michigan gathered at Orion Township’s Camp
Agawam on Oct. 15 for an “Emergency-o-ree,” a campout where first responders offered
experiential training for responding to emergencies.
“I’m so grateful for all of the volunteers that created this hands-on learning experience, especially
the first responders,” John Pineau, program chair for Scouting’s local Pontiac-Manito District,
said.
According to Pineau, Orion Township Fire and Rescue, West Bloomfield Fire and Rescue, Star
EMS, the Oakland County Dive Rescue Team and the Lake Orion Police Department all ran
stations during the campout. The Oakland Township Fire Department’s Fire Safety House, a
trailer converted to simulate a burning building, was parked on site for Scouts to practice safely
escaping a house fire.
Event organizer Tom Houlihan, a sheriff’s deputy in Oakland County, said the event was the result
of years of planning.
“In all honesty, I feel a sense of relief and gratitude that it went so well,” Houlihan said. “It was a
good day; the kids had fun, and it was very gratifying.”
In the afternoon, older youth participants faced a surprise “mass casualty drill.” Twelve event staff
members donned latex wounds and staged a mock accident for Scouts to practice first aid. Some
posed as burn victims, while others nursed fractured limbs. On arriving at the scene, Scouts had to
determine which victims to treat first and how to ultimately evacuate them.
“I hope younger scouts learned more about first aid and how to handle stressful situations,” Life
Scout Paavo Nurmi, 17, said.
After completing the drill, the youth were given feedback on the choices they made during the
exercise. According to Houlihan, the simulation provided a safe environment to learn from any
mistakes made.
“The next time you do this, it may be real blood, real broken bones and real fire,” Houlihan told
participants during the debriefing. “You may need to be a hero.”
