Demonstrations, tours highlight first Allied Health Day

by Justin Lopez, staff writer

Tours, mock demonstrations, and the signing of a proclamation were among the highlights of the first Allied Health Day at South Plains College’s Reese Center Campus.

The first demonstration was from the Surgical Technology students. They performed a hysterectomy on a surgical dummy.

The Respiratory Care Technology students performed a mock demonstration of intabating a baby surgical dummy. They also performed on an adult surgical dummy. They had to secure the air way, slide a tube in the mouth and bag the baby. If there had been any complications, they would have had to hook him up to a ventilator.

“I am most interested in the I.V. needles and blood work is awesome. I’m in to that kind of thing,” said Dana Brown, a senior at Abernathy High during the open h        The other mock demonstrations and featured programs included Applied Rehabilitation Psychology, Child Development, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Health Information Services, and Radiologic Technology.

Lubbock mayor, David Miller, took a tour and signed a proclamation declaring Oct. 4 as Allied Health Day.

“What you’re studying out here today impacts lives more than you’ll ever realize because when that’s your friend, or your mom, or your child laying in that bed, the professionalism and the expertise that you bring to the table regardless of your chosen specialty, becomes very, very dear to that patient and that patient’s family and friends. Please don’t take lightly the calling that God has given to you to be what it is that you’re about to be by going through the training at what I think is one of the finest community colleges in the state of Texas…. You will be serving mankind well,” said Miller.

High school students from the surrounding area came to observe and gain information about career fields they might be going into.

“I think we had a very good response from the high school students,” said Stacey May, Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting Program Director. “They seem very interested. Of course, our Allied Health students did a great job at doing all the mock procedures and showing them around. I think it was a great success and a good possibility that we’ll do this again next year.”