Talbot County, Maryland

03/17/2025

Category: Emergency Services

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Madison Loker demonstrates how to place an individual into the recovery position. The recovery position is required whenever someone is in a condition that makes them unconscious and when their breathing is weak.

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Students practice their splint wrapping techniques.

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Loker demonstrates how to apply pressure to a wound, explaining you should clean a wound, apply pressure, and wrap up as necessary.

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During training, students learned how to safely remove gloves that were covered in “germs”. Then, they used a special light to determine if they had stayed clean during the process. Looks like this student needs a bit more practice!

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Students practice splint wrapping.

Madison Loker, Emergency Services Coordinator at the Talbot County Department of Emergency Services (DES), regularly teaches emergency preparedness and first aid to adults. However, last week, she had the unique opportunity to introduce these lifesaving skills to a younger audience during the Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center’s Afterschool Program.

The class is part of an ongoing effort to engage different groups on the importance of emergency response techniques, including how to call 9-1-1, the importance of staying calm, basic injury care, and recognizing when to seek help.

“Teaching children basic first aid is an invaluable life skill that can make a difference in an emergency,” said Loker. “Whether at home, school, or playing outside, accidents can happen at any time. Knowing how to respond helps children stay calm and assist others effectively.”

The value of early intervention in emergencies is clear. In 2023, Talbot County’s own Sean Gunshenan, then 18, saved his father’s life by performing CPR— a skill he learned through Boy Scouts training. Just last week, a second grader in North Carolina successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver on his friend, preventing him from choking on a granola bar. According to WRAL News, the child had learned the technique by watching a teacher save another student and later teaching himself via YouTube.

Loker encourages all students to learn basic first aid skills and, when ready, pursue certification in CPR and AED use. She also teaches Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes, a free disaster preparedness program hosted by DES. CERT training equips residents with essential skills to care for themselves, their families, and their neighbors during emergencies until professional responders arrive.

In June, Loker will introduce a new class focused on pet preparedness, helping community members understand how to keep their pets safe during emergencies.

“It’s my job to ensure that our community has access to emergency preparedness education,” said Loker.

“You never know when these techniques could come in handy,” added Brian LeCates, Director of Emergency Services. “Teaching these skills to as many people as possible strengthens our community’s resilience. Even something as simple as showing children how to call 9-1-1 can give them the confidence to act in a crisis.”

For more information on community training opportunities offered through the Department of Emergency Services, contact Madison Loker at mloker@talbotcountymd.gov  or call 410-770-8160.

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