A recent lesson at Capital Region BOCES took the breath away from high school juniors and seniors—literally.

Juniors and seniors in the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program created and inflated model lungs as they learned about the upper respiratory system in the Integrated Science portion of their EMT program.

Using balloons, modeling clay, a plastic bottle, straws and tape, the students created the model lungs and inflated them, learning in 3D about the role of bronchi, the diaphragm, trachea and pleural space. They then poked a hole in one of the balloons to symbolize a pneumothorax (collapsed lung), which is a relatively common trauma emergency medical personnel deal with,

“It’s a great way for the students to visualize in 3D what they are learning in the text book and in class discussion,” said Integrated Science Teacher Matt Woods.

Students said they valued the lesson and the knowledge it provided as they prepared for careers in medicine.

“I want to be a neurosurgeon, so this course is a good way to get a better understanding of the healthcare and prepare me for college,” said Bianca Gillick, who attends the program from Middleburgh.

Classmate Caleb Shappy of Cobleskill-Richmondville offered a similar take.

“I have had a lifetime history of health issues and so has my brother. This course is not only helping me to help others, but it is expanding my knowledge of health issues in general,” he said.