Camden Clark Medical Center, West Virginia University at Parkersburg mark Bring a Child to Work Day
A group of kids take a tour of an ambulance Friday as WVU Medicine Camden Clark held a Bring a Child to Work Day for local students. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Mariah Benedict, 9, is strapped to a stretcher as Shawn Marshall, paramedic and manager of ambulance services, and EMT Zachary Graham show students how patients are loaded into an ambulance. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Visitors learned about science with Dr. Jared Gump during Take Your Child to Work Day at West Virginia University Parkersburg on Thursday. (Photo Provided)
Visitors learned how to collect fingerprints with Andrew Walker during Take Your Child to Work Day at West Virginia University Parkersburg on Thursday. (Photo Provided)
Mariah Benedict, 9, is strapped to a stretcher as Shawn Marshall, paramedic and manager of ambulance services, and EMT Zachary Graham show students how patients are loaded into an ambulance. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Visitors did an obstacle course with the education department during Take Your Child to Work Day at West Virginia University Parkersburg on Thursday. (Photo Provided)
Visitors went on a hayride during Take Your Child to Work Day at West Virginia University Parkersburg on Thursday. (Photo Provided)
A group of kids take a tour of an ambulance Friday as WVU Medicine Camden Clark held a Bring a Child to Work Day for local students. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Mariah Benedict, 9, is strapped to a stretcher as Shawn Marshall, paramedic and manager of ambulance services, and EMT Zachary Graham show students how patients are loaded into an ambulance. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Visitors learned about science with Dr. Jared Gump during Take Your Child to Work Day at West Virginia University Parkersburg on Thursday. (Photo Provided)
Visitors learned how to collect fingerprints with Andrew Walker during Take Your Child to Work Day at West Virginia University Parkersburg on Thursday. (Photo Provided)
Mariah Benedict, 9, is strapped to a stretcher as Shawn Marshall, paramedic and manager of ambulance services, and EMT Zachary Graham show students how patients are loaded into an ambulance. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Visitors did an obstacle course with the education department during Take Your Child to Work Day at West Virginia University Parkersburg on Thursday. (Photo Provided)
Visitors went on a hayride during Take Your Child to Work Day at West Virginia University Parkersburg on Thursday. (Photo Provided)
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PARKERSBURG -- Multiple area businesses held Bring a Child to Work Day events the past couple days, including West Virginia University at Parkersburg and WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center.
WVU-P had students run obstacle courses, learn how to take fingerprints and even had a hayride.
CCMC provided opportunities for local students interested in healthcare careers to engage in activities at their event.
"We've been going in groups and learning about how the hospital works and what different jobs there are," student Noah Smith said.
Workforce Development Program Manager Candy Gillespie said the hospital wanted to bring awareness to the younger students about the healthcare field.
"We thought this would be a good way to bring everyone together and give them some exposure to different departments within the hospital. Let them know there is more than nurses and doctors, as far as career paths," Gillespie said. "We had excellent response."
Gillespie said 75 students attended the event and throughout the day participated in hands-on experiments, safety tours, art projects and more. She said occupational therapy talked to the students about physical therapy, there was a presentation for students on the dangers of vaping and radiology was going to show students how to do an ultrasound.
"I liked all the therapy stuff," said student Josie Gillespie. "I liked the physical therapy stuff and now I kind of want to do it when I get older."
Smith said his favorite part of the day was getting to tour an ambulance, and it made him think about wanting to become an EMT or paramedic, and that he also learned some new things about babies.
"How to like, wrap the babies up in a blanket. I've never learned that," Smith said.
Gillespie said the staff at the hospital has been very receptive and supportive of the event and it couldn't have happened without the help of the volunteers. She said they will definitely be doing another event like this next year with it being even bigger and better.
"Hopefully we'll learn some additional things to do," Gillespie said. "Keep it interactive and light, and educational at the same time."
Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com