Lt. Daniel K. Kehoe, (Ret.)
The SVAA Cadet program was started by two members in the late 1980s: Cindy Nicholson (a popular teacher) and Paulette Vandervoort.
The purpose of the program (sometimes referred to as the Explorers) was to encourage students to learn lifesaving skills and gain an interest in EMS. They learned First Aid, CPR, and some backboarding and rescue techniques.
Frequently assisting at Mobile Open House events in various neighborhoods, the Cadets enjoyed giving the public tours of the ambulances and demonstrating the stretcher and other medical equipment onboard the ambulances.
Though not directly part of the Cadets program, older school-aged students who passed the Medical Response Technician (MRT) training were allowed to sign up for day shifts on the ambulance and respond from school (the ambulance picked them up on the way).
Many of these student responders went on to continue with the SVAA after their school years were completed, or take medical and hospital jobs, having had real world experience.
