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InnerLink:
Linking Students With Top Scientists

InnerLink's first three projects concern "outer space," "inner space" (human health), and "Earth space" (environment). Educators interested in learning more about the projects or in ordering a science kit for their students to participate in the experiments can click the InnerLink logo above. The kits are developed and promoted in partnership with several organizations, including Education World.

One of InnerLink's founders, Dr. Rob Gillio, has been a volunteer at "ground zero" since shortly after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. His work has focused especially on the known and the potential respiratory injuries caused by the attack on and the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings. Recently, Gillio briefed the Office of Homeland Security on InnerLink's vision for an integrated, community-wide approach to homeland security that features schools as safe harbors for learning, with an active, engaged student body that has been informed on how to take care of their own health and that of others.

"Students should know that we're all a part of the solution to homeland security in the sense that we all need to know how best to handle any crisis that does arise," said Dr. Gillio in a recent interview with Education World. "In my view, the issue of homeland security is powerfully connected to the issue of how healthy we are, how strong we are, literally, as people."

InnerLink's newest project concentrates on one aspect of that -- respiratory health. Project Breathe is an online, hands-on learning curriculum for respiratory health and smoking prevention that is accompanied by a classroom lab kit. Its curriculum correlates with national and state standards for health education and engages students in authentic collaboration with Mayo-trained faculty.

"One important goal of Project Breathe," said Gillio (left), "is to engage students in the process of actually doing community screening for respiratory problems. In this way, students not only learn about the scientific method, they may also help increase our understanding of the overall state of respiratory health in our country."

Gillio is quick to point out that the project is not about encouraging students to practice medicine without a license, "but there's no question in my mind that it's more important than ever to raise our level of consciousness about health and health risks."

Like all of InnerLink's standards-based curricula, Project Breathe engages students in the theory, skills, and practical applications surrounding respiratory health. The curriculum has been designed to serve the health and safety standards required of upper elementary, middle school, and high school students.

Project Breathe is one of a series of interactive educational products produced by InnerLink to promote smarter, safer, healthier schools and communities. InnerLink's products were recently featured at the National Association of Elementary School Principals convention in San Antonio in April. To learn more about Project Breathe, call 1-866-LAB-KITS (522-5487), e-mail Rob Gillio, or go to Project Breathe at Innerlink.

LESSONS LEARNED AT GROUND ZERO

Educators and parents wishing to implement some of these guidelines will want to consider how, and to what extent, to share such information with students: Preparedness is important, but it's important not to alarm children.

• Be aware. Be conscious of the environment. If you sense you are at risk, leave. If you are suspicious of a person or a package, leave the area and notify authorities. If you can sense an unknown substance in the air, leave the area or limit the time you are exposed.
• Be prepared. Keep your up-to-date medical history available, with immunizations, allergies, history of medical problems, and emergency-contact information, including the names and numbers of physicians and/or hospitals. Sign parental consent forms for minors to receive emergency care, and consider an online medical record or a "smart card" system.
• Be organized. Think through scenarios in which you might not have water, transportation, food, or expert help for a period of time. Have on hand a first-aid kit and basic medications, including pain relievers, antihistamines, and diarrhea medicine, and any prescription medications that family members might need. A supply of nonperishable, nutritious food, water purification tablets, bleach, and instructions for how to purify water, as well as flashlights with a good supply of batteries, and other light sources such as candles and matches to light them, all are good things for a family and a school to make sure they have.
• Be ready for the unexpected. Stay healthy; stay as calm, reassuring, and thoughtful as possible; and have some "fall-back" plans. In an emergency, you might have to run fast, walk long distances, move quickly up or down flights of stairs, or carry heavy loads. Staying as healthy as possible, especially by not smoking, is a key to being able to cope with such challenges as well as possible. Having a family meeting place to go to in case of an emergency, and knowing all family phone numbers, including cell phone numbers, from memory, are useful "fall-back" strategies.

Article by Forrest Stone
Education World®
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