Hospitals Help: Youth Safety Event Teaches UP Students Emergency Preparedness

Camp 911 is a hands-on, youth-focused safety event supported by Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson hospital that is designed to teach school-aged children essential emergency response skills.

Students participating in Camp 911, a program supported by Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson hospital.

The camp brings together professionals from various fields to demonstrate practical safety techniques and procedures that can be used in everyday situations. Participants learn how to perform CPR, respond to and extinguish stove-top fires and practice safe habits when operating or riding all-terrain vehicles. The camp also covers swimming and watercraft safety, introduces children to the roles and tools of emergency responders and shares other vital safety tips.

Local law enforcement, medical staff, nurses and emergency personnel generously volunteer their time and resources to make Camp 911 a success. Their commitment reflects the community’s shared belief in the importance of preparing children to respond confidently and appropriately in emergency situations.

“Camp 911 is a wonderful resource for our local children, giving them practical experience dealing with emergency situations,” said Mandy Shelast, president, Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson. “Renee Stanchina, our nursing education coordinator at Marshfield-Dickinson, has embraced and supported the event and continues to be the driving force behind Camp 911’s success. Thank you, Renee!”

To read more positive hospital stories, check out more Hospitals Help webpage and the 2025 Community Impact Report. Members with questions may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.

Hospitals Help: Munson Healthcare, Community Partners Offer Free Family Support Program

Marina, a Healthy Futures participant, with her family and newborn son.

Healthy Futures is a free family support program that helps answer questions and assists families in finding services and resources in the community. The program, which has no eligibility requirements, is a collaboration between Munson Healthcare, local health departments and healthcare providers across 31 counties in the northern Michigan region.

The main goals of the program are around increasing access to care, immunization education and breastfeeding support services. The program includes newsletters and texts sent by Munson, phone calls and home visits by a public health nurse in the community.

After struggling with breastfeeding her newborn daughter, one patient enrolled in the program and accepted a home visit, which resulted in a life-saving diagnosis and treatment for postpartum preeclampsia, a condition that can be fatal if left untreated.

“Today, I’m alive, healthy, and here to enjoy my daughter, son and family because Healthy Futures stepped in at the right time,” said Marina, a Healthy Futures participant. “They helped me breastfeed, taught me how to boost my milk supply, monitored my baby’s weight, checked in on my mental health…and after almost five months, they’re still checking on me and my baby.”

To learn more about the program, visit Munson Healthcare’s website. To read more positive hospital stories, check out more Hospitals Help webpage and the 2025 Community Impact Report. Members with questions may contact Lucy Ciaramitaro at the MHA.