EXPLORER SCOUTS TRAIN FOR CAREERS

Explorer Post 4-234 first began on Feb. 8, 1999. It is a chaperoned, career-oriented, coed program open to young people between the ages of 14 and 21.

Dru Reeves, one of the organization's leaders, said, "Explorers provide an excellent opportunity for young men and women to pursue a career in emergency management."

Aimee Troyer, an explorer, received training on the automated external defibrillator device and commented that "this gives paramedics more time. This new device is not very difficult to administer; yet, it is only to be used for a person eight years or older who is in cardiac arrest."

"A fantastic, coed group that picks up where Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts leaves off," said Sandy Vaughn, instructor and trainer for the American Red Cross, health and safety division. Vaughn has trained several of the explorers in this group.

"They learn so much about how to respond in emergency and disaster situations," she said. "It also offers a great opportunity for individual growth and maturity."

The next event Explorers will participate in takes place Saturday at Country Mart in Jackson when Explorer Post members will bag groceries to earn money for their organization.

The Air Evac Lifeteam, an air ambulance service, will also be present. Together, the two groups work together to inform the public of the affordable membership program available to people who may have life- or limb-threatening emergencies.

"Air Evac's mission is to help others and they provide a great service to our community, so it seems natural that we should be helping each other," said Dixie Troyer, an adult Explorer Post volunteer. For every membership sold, Air Evac donates $10 to the Explorer Post.

"Our goal is to raise moral, upright people who care about their community and want to help others," said Troyer. Their activities are evidence of that statement.

Here are some of the activities of the Explorer group:

* Participate in trade shows that help educate people about disaster, rescue and emergency preparedness;

* Become licensed ham radio operators;

* Help put together disaster buckets for use in public places;

* Receive certification in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation from the Red Cross;

* Raise money for good causes, like multiple sclerosis;

* Do fun things like visit the Boy Scout Museum in Kentucky, camp, explore caves, canoe, rappel and climb rocks, march in parades, go caroling, plant flowers in area parks, learn to tie knots, ski and snowboard, work at Scout camps, visit weather stations, take advanced weather watching courses and learn sailing at Trail of Tears.

For information on joining the Explorer Post, people can call 204-0230 and speak to Dixie Troyer or visit the Explorer group Saturday at Country Mart.