Pearl City High School students studying health care pathways hosted an inaugural Keiki Career and Health Fair today for neighboring elementary schools. Approximately 260 fifth and sixth graders from Lehua, M\u0101nana and Momilani elementary schools were invited to explore health careers, participate in interactive workshops, learn about the human body systems, and tour Pearl City High’s health services classrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hands-on activities included CPR for both humans and pets, practice injections, pharmacy pill counting, nurse patient handling, as well as lessons on blood type, genetics, radiology, hand hygiene and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event aims to educate younger generations about careers in the health care field, said organizer Judith Morton and Pearl City High School\u2019s Diagnostic Services Program of Study lead teacher. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been wanting to do a project like this for years as a science teacher,\u201d Morton said. \u201cWe wanted to inspire students and young people to see what there is in the health care industry. I hope students were able to explore and at least try something new. Hopefully by the time they get to high school, they\u2019ll have a better idea of what they want to pursue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pearl City High senior Keilana Hall led the nursing station with classmate Christian Macanas and together demonstrated how to safely move patients in hospital beds. Their station featured two hospital beds with life-sized mannequins dressed in hospital gowns weighing about 50-60 pounds in each bed. Under the guidance of the high schoolers, elementary students worked together to turn the \u201cpatients\u201d on their side, facing the rail, and place a pillow under its legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis activity was inspired by the hands-on activities that we do in class,\u201d said Hall, who aspires to become a nurse one day. \u201cI think having this opportunity for younger kids, it gives them a foot in the door if they are interested in pursuing this career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Momilani Elementary sixth grader Kian Omine said the day has been \u201cpretty fun,\u201d adding that he\u2019s interested in \u201cseeing dissecting and learning about the human body.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another station included learning about different blood types. Students used droppers to mix colored liquids to learn about how different blood types are determined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI like teaching younger students, especially if it\u2019s something I\u2019m passionate about and the health care field is one of my passions,\u201d said Pearl City High junior Jasmine Ermitanio, who also co-emceed the day\u2019s opening remarks. \u201cI want to help people and teaching others things like this helps me know that I am helping others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Keiki Career and Health Fair is the culminating activity for Project SPROUT, which aims to mitigate the shortage of Hawai\u2018i health care workers by empowering high school students to pursue health care careers and cultivating interest in younger students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Morton says the fair is just the beginning of activities being planned to help increase the number of homegrown, skilled medical professionals in Hawai\u2018i and increase general student awareness of future academy or career pathways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n