Two teenage girls and a teenage boy were transported from the Wyman Center, 600 Kiwanis Drive, in Eureka to an area hospital after one of the girls experienced a medical emergency. Numerous first responders responded to the campgrounds to help treat and calm campers shortly after the initial medical emergency, Eureka Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Scott Barthelmass said.
He said Eureka Fire was called to the campgrounds at about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, for a medical call. Wyman CEO Claire Wyneken said a teenage girl with a pre-existing medical condition had an episode while in the dining hall and was taken to an area hospital.
However, Eureka Fire was called back to the Wyman Center at about 8 p.m.
“There were additional medical-related issues for somebody else, which turned into us assessing 14 people and transporting two,” Barthelmass said.
Wyneken said another teenage girl appeared to hyperventilate, and a teenage boy tripped and fell. She said there were about 50 teenage campers and 25 staff members in the dining hall at the time.
“The Eureka Fire Protection District was in command of the scene,” Wyneken said.” They called in others to help to make sure we had full coverage in case anybody else needed attention. All the first responders who came were fantastic.”
Barthelmass said the Fenton, Pacific, Metro West and Valley Park fire protection districts and the Meramec Ambulance District responded to the camp.
Wyneken said the two girls and boy were doing better Wednesday, June. 21. She said the three teens were between the ages of 14 and 15.
She also said the girl who experienced the medical emergency has requested to return to the camp.
Wyneken said about 80 campers were at Wyman as part of a three-week overnight stay for a Wyman Leaders program. The camp is scheduled to conclude Sunday, June 25.
“We had some young people whose parents were concerned, and we let anybody who wanted to go home (Tuesday night) do so,” she said. “Some will stay out for the rest of the sessions, and we expect several to return.”
Wyneken said staff members let the campers sleep in on Wednesday, June 21, and then they discussed the situation with campers.
“Then we tried to get them back to a normal schedule,” she said. “Young people get close when they are here, and they get concerned about their friends. I think it helps that I was able to tell them everyone is doing better.
“I think the campers will find a way to learn from this experience, such as how to handle an emergency situation and be helpful. It is not the way we want them to learn that lesson, but our young people have a way of squeezing learning from any experience.”
The Wyman Center, originally Camp Wyman, began operating in 1898, and according to the organization’s website, it has helped more than 1 million teenagers. It began as an adventure camp for area teens to take part in character-building activities.
Wyman Leaders is a nine-year program with participants starting their eighth-grade year and continuing through their high school and a post-secondary school path, such as college or technical school, Wyneken said.
The program is for teenagers from low-income environments, and Wyneken said participants are recommended by more than 18 organizations, mainly schools, that work with Wyman.