CARIBOU, Maine — Young students learned what could happen if they picked a used needle or pill lying on the ground during a series of June 8, 2016 presentations at Teague Park Elementary School.
Courtney Boma, a volunteer with Cary Medical Center, has been giving speeches to students for the past two months, and plans on giving more when school commences in the fall.
According to Boma, the talks are funded by the American Medical Association Healthy Living Grant Program, which provides money for brochures and coloring books.
“We have a good time talking to the students,” said Boma, “and Cary works with several communities, such as Presque Isle, Fort Fairfield, Van Buren, Limestone and Washburn. We’ve gone to most of those communities to speak with the kids, and plan on doing the rest in the fall.”
Boma was joined by policeman Kevin St. Peter, who showed third-graders the proper way to handle a situation if they stumble across a “medical sharp” on the ground.
Their two main messages to students were to not touch any needles they find lying on the ground and, if they do find one, to tell an adult right away.
“When you all play on this playground, since it’s open to the public, there’s a chance that you may find a needle lying on the ground someday. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen, but remember the two rules if it does.”
Before ending the presentation, Boma and St. Peter had the third-graders play a game in which they looked at a clear container and identified which objects inside were pills, and which were candy, with the lesson being that, if there is any doubt, it should be left on the ground.
“It’s really important that you don’t eat anything you find lying on the ground, but also that you don’t touch it,” Boma said.
“Some medication, if you touch it, it can get on your skin and absorbed, and then you could get poisoned.” St. Peter added.
“The bottom line is, unless a medication is for you and given to you by a trusted adult — somebody who knows you need that particular medication — then you should not be taking it. If it’s not medicine for you, then it could make you very sick,” said Boma.
At the end of the talk, students were given coloring books, featuring artwork from CHS student Shania Bell.
