All-female camp encourages more women to become first responders

DARTMOUTH – Whether they are ready or not, a group of teens has to deliver a baby.

They huddle around the mother, watching and waiting, as contraction after contraction eventually pushes out a baby.

There are congratulations all around. Then instructors set up the mannequin to prepare for the next participant.

Welcome to Camp Courage — a camp that caters to women and introduces them to professions in paramedicine, policing and fire fighting.

There are 24 girls from across the province enrolled in the camp, ranging in ages from 15-years-old to 19-years-old.

Alysha Lynch, 18, from West Chezzetcook, wants to be a paramedic. “That’s been my dream for a long time,” she said.

On Tuesday, she got the chance to see what life as a paramedic would be like.

Volunteer paramedics, all female, set up six different booths for groups of girls to rotate through.

The teens got the chance to check heart rates, intubate a mannequin, help deliver a baby, immobilize patients and create splints as well as set up an IV for a patient.

Lynch said the experience has confirmed her career path.

“I know it’s hard but if I set my mind to it, I’ll do it,” the teen said, adding she just recently submitted her application to paramedic school.

For Camp Courage founder Andrea Speranza, it’s another success story.

Speranza started the non-profit in 2006 to encourage more women to become first responders.

“Initially I started Camp Courage because we had less than two percent of females in the firefighting trade,” she said.

Paramedic Donna Reid says that when she started in the field one out of every 20 paramedics was female.

Though she says the percentage of women in paramedicine has increased to about 40 percent, Reid says the industry could always use more women.

“Women have a side that’s quite soft and nurturing and we really play well off of men and play really well with them,” Reid said.

She says that she’s rallying for more women to enter paramedicine.

“It’s doable. It’s attainable for us. You can be strong and you can be fit and you can be really smart with this job,” Reid said.

Participant Christina Ysanov, 16, of Eastern Passage said she has wanted to be a firefighter ever since she was young, but Tuesday’s paramedic experience has been eye-opening.

“I’ve learned a lot. We learned about IVs. We even saw a mannequin give birth,” Ysanov said.

“It’s very different. You’re not going to do the same thing every day,” she said.

Fellow participant Rebecca MacNeil, of Benacadie, in Cape Breton, said she is very excited to be spending her summer at Camp Courage.

“No other camp like this in Nova Scotia, or even Canada, offers the skills and abilities we get to do in paramedicine, policing and firefighting,” the 17-year-old said.

MacNeil, who is interested in becoming a police officer, said it’s inspiring to look around the room at all the female first responders.

Camp Courage continues for the duration of the week.

On Wednesday, the camp will spotlight policing and on Friday, participants will get hands-on firefighting experience.

For more information on the camp, check out this link: http://www.campcourage.ca/