LILLINGTON - How to give CPR to a dog, what types of instruments and scientific techniques are used in a laboratory, and how to bandage a wound properly were some of the instructional sessions middle and high school students from Harnett and Lee counties participated in at Central Carolina Community College's July 22 Health Care Career Camp at the college's Harnett Health Sciences Center in Lillington.

Lennie Stephenson, director of the college's Continuing Education Medical Programs, said the goal of the camp was to expose middle and high school students to the wide variety of health care careers they can pursue after high school.

Twenty-eight middle and high school students from Overhills, Western Harnett, and Harnett Central middle and high schools, Coats-Erwin Middle School, and Lee and Triton high schools rotated through six 50-minute workshops. The workshops included Laboratory Technology, Medical Assisting, Nursing, Veterinary Medical Technology, Dental Hygiene/Assisting and Nursing Assistant.

In the Veterinary Medical Technology sessions, students participated in a dog CPR demonstration and learned about different animals and how to care for them. The Medical Assisting workshop engaged students in a bandaging session and an anatomy-based relay race.

During the Nursing workshop, students reviewed the procedures needed to maintain a sterile environment, assess vital signs and wash their hands properly. The Dental Hygiene workshop demonstrated how dental molds are made, and the Nursing Assistant workshop explained the importance of patient mobility and how to assist patients to move in hospital beds. Students learned about personal protective equipment by suiting-up with mask, gown and gloves.

A survey of the students after the camp indicated that at least 81 percent of them would definitely be interested in a healthcare career. Thirty-seven percent enjoyed the session on Veterinary Medical Technology the best and 30 percent had an interest in being a Nursing Assistant. One hundred percent of the students said they had a fun day.

"The camp is designed as a one-day program to familiarize students who may have an interest in pursing a career in the health sciences," said Stephenson. "With activities that are related to each discipline, students were able to interact with healthcare professionals and participate in an array of hands-on activities and technologies used in six different areas of healthcare."

The Healthcare Camp was a joint endeavor of CCCC's continuing education and curriculum Health Sciences programs. Assisting with the workshops were Vicky Wesner and Wendy Seymore, Dental Hygiene/Dental Assisting; Dr. John Eylers, Laboratory Technician; Ann Davis-Johnson, Medical Assisting; Lena Clayton and Angela Swank, Nursing; Kim Tew and Sandra Bass, Nursing Assistant; and Dr. Kim Browning and Jonathan Loftis, Veterinary Medical Technology.

The students rotated through three 50-minute workshops during the morning session and three during the afternoon. A box lunch was provided by Central Harnett Hospital and students enjoyed a "get up and move" exercise with the college's Career and College Promise advisors.

Students listed dressing in nursing gear, dental molds and color dye, and learning how to give CPR to a dog as some of their favorite activities.

For more information about healthcare career programs at CCCC, contact Lennie Stephenson at 910-814-8833, e-mail her at lstephenson@cccc.edu, or visit www.cccc.edu.