Paige Rock hasn’t needed to use the burn trauma training she learned through the El Riad Shrine, at least not directly.
But the registered nurse and mother of four appreciates knowing she is prepared if something happens, and she also has used her training to make new parents aware of when and how burns can occur.
“I do talk about some of the prevention with my patients as they’re going home and taking a new baby home,” Rock said. “I suggest they check water heaters to make sure they’re not set too high or to test the bathwater to make sure it’s not too hot.”
Rock participated in a pediatric burn trauma seminar offered two years ago through the local El Riad Shrine and Shriners Hospital for Children in Cincinnati.
It has been offered three times in Sioux Falls over the past six years, said Shriner Roger Risty, and in Yankton it has been available for more than 10 years, training hundreds of people. It will be offered next week in Brookings and Yankton and twice in Sioux Falls.
“The clinic is labeled as a pediatric burn and trauma seminar, but it’s actually for anybody who would be the initial responder for anybody in a burn situation,” Risty said. “For instance, there was a propane fire in Lennox last week. One guy received burns over 50 percent of his body and another guy over 20 percent. Those who are going to be first on the scene know how to treat and react.”
To make sure volunteer emergency management technicians and firefighters can take part, for the first time in Sioux Falls the seminar will be offered in the evening, too, Risty said. Organizers had received numerous requests for that possibility.
Between the four seminars, more than 900 people will take the training next week. Participants include physicians, medical students and nurses.
“One of the things we found out, the medical schools are not teaching this,” Risty said. “And there is no longer a burn facility in Sioux Falls. This is one of the few areas where providers will be able to find this kind of educational background for burns.”
Rock, a registered nurse for the last five years, works at Sanford Health’s The Burn Place. She took the pediatric burn trauma seminar in 2013 at the suggestion of her father, Don McCoy of Sioux Falls, who became a Shriner after the birth of her oldest child. Today Rock’s children are 9, 7, 21/2 and 4 months of age.
Shriners International is known for its network of 22 hospitals for children located in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“I think he’s appreciated the appreciated the opportunity to help with the kiddos,” Rock said. “After every event, I know he’s grateful and thankful that our kiddos are healthy, and he really does enjoy being able to help those who need extra services.”
Every bit of information that a professional is able to obtain is valuable, said Rock, whose first degree is in public health education. The seminar also educated her on the long-term care needed by burn patients and the emotional toll it takes on the person and the family.
“It’s good to know because they’re coming back to us for this care,” she said. “It’s good to always be aware and able to offer this in support or even a smile, saying you’re going to be OK.”
If you go
WHAT: Pediatric burn trauma seminars offered through El Riad Shrine and Shriners Hospital for Children in Cincinnati
WHERE AND WHEN: The Days Inn, Brookings; March 23; El Riad Temple, Sioux Falls, March 24; JoDeans Steak House, Yankton, March 25.
TIME: Registration at 8 a.m. with the seminar from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. An additional session will be 6 to 10 p.m. March 24 at El Riad Temple.
INFORMATION: Roger Risty, 338-1489; Don McCoy, 366-5062; El Riad office, 336-1117, or John Gunderson, 661-6752.
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