Kids get aerial surprise at Breezy Hill
7/24/2008 10:50 PM   0 comment(s) on this story E-mail this story to a friend



By APRIL BAILEY

Staff writer

While the day included several games and water activities, watching the helicopter land seemed to garner the highest level of excitement Thursday at Breezy Hill Baptist Church's Bible Camp.

Both kids and adults gathered, all staring upward as they watched the aircraft flown by officials with AirMed land in an open field at the church.

The visit was a part of the church's "Search and Rescue" themed camp, which focused on the duties of local fire officials, law enforcement and emergency medical responders, as well as Bible lessons.

Kids toured fire trucks, met a local forensic officer and saw some of the bloodhounds that work with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office as a part of the week's activities, according to Tim Goodwin, youth pastor at the church.

Unlike most summer Bible camps, the Breezy Hill camp offers both a day camp for kids ages 4-7 and an overnight camp for kids 8-12. The camp includes worship services, Bible lessons, games and swimming.

Goodwin said the camp offers an unconventional opportunity to offer unconditional love to children in the community.

"We love them like we love our children," he said of the camp's volunteers. "This is just another opportunity to impact the lives of children."

Pilot Keith Bell, flight medic Brian Hancock and flight nurse Mandy Purcell of AirMed, an air ambulance company which transfers patients in critical need of emergency care to hospitals, arrived by the helicopter.

The three talked to the campers about how a helicopter operates, as well as the duties their jobs entail.

"It's an exciting job," said Purcell. "God has given us the ability to take care of you guys."

The medical responders also talked about some of the extreme emergency cases they respond to, prompting Bell to ask the kids to raise their hands and promise to always wear a seat belt when in a vehicle.

"Whenever we can do a community outreach, we try to," said Bell. "We try to impart upon children the importance of being safe in their day-to-day lives."

Bell said they often makes visits in the community, describing their work to various groups. "This is one of our favorite parts - working with the kids," he said.

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