European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 13, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                I. I life skills putting classroom lessons to practical use by Jimi Jones education writer Hile 9-year-old Andrew Graziano s three person team attended to a choking victim 10-year-old Mandy Hefren s group tended a victim suffering from an overdose. Andrew s team performed the Heimlich Man Euver and later did Rescue breathing while Mandy s struggled to keep its patient awake and on his feet. The scene took place recently in a classroom at Aukamp elementary school in Wiesbaden Germany where fifth graders practice lessons Learned from soldiers assigned to the 68th Medica group in Wiesbaden. Soldiers had taught them first Aid that concentrated on emergency life threatening situations. The first Aid course was part of a life skills program a course sponsored by the school s Parent teacher association. Its purpose is to prepare pupils to meet the demands of a changing society and changing family structures and roles. Observed last year. That children were missing the total picture of a concept the beginning the Middle and the end of How school lessons Are applied to everyday life said Janet Hefren Pat president and program organizer. They were just getting involved in a Little piece of it. And i also noticed that they had too much time and too much Money she said noting that youngsters were purchasing 25-cent bags of Popcorn with $5 and $10 Bills. The Money normally comes from allowances that kids might get simply for cleaning their rooms she said. A main objective of the life skills program which is taught during the regular school Day is to teach children to apply what they learn in Basic subjects to real life situations. It teaches the Why she said. Everyone has said Why do i have to learn fractions math i la never use it again Hefren said. Want to double a recipe you need fractions. You need Reading to follow  and if children have the luxury of a checking account you have to know your math she said. The program tackles situations ranging from Check writing to changing tires to pet care to cooking and sewing and peer mediation Hefren said. Additionally it teaches at least two ways of making Money and being responsible she said. We. Teach baby sitting which children do whether they be been trained or not after school until mom or dad gets Home. We also do pet care another Way of being responsible and during summer they can be making some Money she said. The course also covers ironing and Home care. Each of the teaching units lasts several weeks with specific objectives and definite activities. During the financial portion of the class youngsters discover what to do with their Money Hefren said including balancing checking accounts writing checks to pay Bills and depositing Money into savings accounts. They have to earn Money Hefren said. Their quizzes and Homework Are their deposits and they make payments from that. They have to put x number of dollars into their savings account every week or month they have to pay their Bills then they know How. Much they have to spend. This is  " All the specific aspects of the classes Are related she said. We made puppets which taught them sewing and the puppets will be used As toys for baby sitting to entertain she said. Children can use the things Learned in food nutrition and cooking when baby sitting she  will be Able to Cook and know How to do it  principal Minerva Mccann said the Parent school Community connection helps the program work Well and at the same time meets school requirements. Research indicates that one of the major indicators of effective schools is parental and Community involvement Mccann said. With the implementation of educational goals for the year 2000, developing programs to prepare pupils to meet the challenges of the future becomes a priority she said. This life skills program was part of an answer to teach competency in social skills and teach children to become productive members of our society. The program is also in line with our school Mission she said which basically Calls for parental involvement and for kids to be productive people. Parents originally were concerned that the course might take away too much time from academics Mccann said but because the program has been incorporated into the regular curriculum the school staff parents and kids were Able to buy into it Mccann said. The students love it. It is one of the highlights of the  Community members provide much of the support needed for training usually conducting a unit on a particular subject school officials said. I be had 100 percent cooperation from the Community Hefren said saving her from teaching every class and adding variety for pupils through guest speakers. For example she said military police will visit and allow kids to get the feel of Handcuffs and the american arms restaurant staff will teach things like table setting serving and table manners. It s hands on real life All the Way she said. Mccann said the school is fortunate to have the 68th medical group As its support unit a unit that wanted to do More than move furniture she said. In times of draw Down offers like this Are most unusual Mccann said. We need the military More now because of the draw Down and the Lack of other services. It s difficult to get support because they Don t have the people she said. But the commander of the group col. Peter Cramblet was eager to provide All types of medical support she said. The Bottom line is that they see the school As a  the classroom scene which was followed by a ook at the ambulance was the wrap up to the first Aid course taught by the 68th s medics. This is a change for them said chief nurse it col. Holly Buchanan even though they Are All qualified instructors and teach routinely As part of their roles As at left Andrew Graziano 9, continues Mouth to Mouth resuscitation on a mannequin As medics wheel it toward an ambulance. Above it. Col. Holly Buchanan tells Chris Hansen 10, How to tend to his patient As medic spec Iosefatu Sua looks on. Combat medics. It s a Good experience she said. In terms of teaching we re available. All they have to do is ask. It s Good for All people. It reinforces things that they know or things they re being taught. Plus i think it helps Community  spec. Maria Mcleod and pfc. Ruth Winters taught the first two classes that covered the Heimlich Man Euver Rescue breathing and bleeding and Burns with Shock. This one kind of ties it All together said Mcleod who has been in Wiesbaden for nearly 21/2 years and found teaching the children quite interesting she said. We be never taught kids before and it was a real Eye opener. They re pretty smart. You d be surprised at what they know and they ask lots of  we would give them the basics but they wanted to know More like what happens if something More serious happens added Winters. Mandy has t experienced a real life medical emergency like the ones she prepared for in her classroom but she is convinced that she would be Able to handle one. She especially enjoyed role playing and getting along with others during the course she said. And when she begins to earn Money with her baby sitting skills the first Aid and manners will come in Handy she said because if you re at someone s else s House you la want to use real Good  Andrew is convinced he could save someone s life. We be gotten trained they be taught us How to do this said Andrew who had been eager to answer questions posed by medics and his teacher. I d feel of if i had to do it but Best of All he said i know How to do it right and i Don t have to watch someone  if. Col. Holly Buchanan helps pupils move an injured classmate. At right medics pfc. Hugh Mcdonnell and pfc. Bryan Swaffar left of the 68th medical croup explain first Aid techniques to a fifth Grade class. Is photos by Dave Casey \ 16 Thi stars and strip saturday november 13. W3 the stars and stripes 17