Saturday, Girl Scouts and some Boy Scouts from throughout South Mississippi gathered at the Henleyfield Community Center for an Emergency Planning badge workshop.
Firefighters with the Henleyfield Volunteer Fire Department, deputies with the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department and EMTs with AAA Ambulance joined in on the fun and taught the eager scouts safety procedures.
Dana Davis, leader of Troop 3478 of Poplarville, coordinated the event last year. Troop members in grades K-12 hailed from Gulfport, Biloxi, Bay St. Louis, Hattiesburg and Jasper County.
“It’s a way for all the troops to earn their badge and they are taught everything involved,” Davis said. “Our first responders teach the girls to be aware in situations such as fire or accident.”
Firefighters gave the girls a tour of the fire
truck and explained to them the different equipment located on the vehicle.
EMTs allowed participants to sit inside the ambulance while they demonstrated the many lifesaving devices at their disposal.
Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Shane Tucker demonstrated how law enforcement officers lifet fingerprints from a cup.
Lt. Trent Boyd and Det. Rob Williams gave the girls an in-depth look at SWAT team gear and even let them try it on.
However, the Girl Scouts seemed most excited when Ace, the Pearl River County Sheriff Department’s certified K9 entered the arena with his handler Glenn Agnelly and Cpl. Brian Anthony.
Ace demonstrated how he searches for narcotics and the cues he gives his handler when he has located illegal substances.
Nix, another of the department’s K9s, demonstrated handler protection apprehension. While a canine is in the vehicle and his handler gets into trouble, the law enforcement officer presses an alarm to release the animal from the vehicle to come to his aid.
Davis said she hopes to make this an annual event. Next year, she wants to bring in a drug and alcohol awareness crash crew. The event is open to the public, she added.
“All the first responders have been amazing,” she said.