Joshua Jackson held the ends of a sling, trying to figure out how to immobilize his friend Wynton Davis' arm. The practice exercise of field-dressing a broken or sprained arm is supposed to prepare a person for what to do if someone is really hurt.

In this case, the owies aren't real, and the rescuers-in-training are incoming third- through fifth-graders attending Oregon State University's KidSpirit summer camp.

The children, ages 8 to 11, are taking the same course as adults and if they can pass the test, they'll receive a first aid card from the American Red Cross. About the only difference between the adult and children's class, according to instructors, is the types of questions asked and the kids' fascination with latex gloves.

Instructor Brittany Werner said in the adult classes she's taught, participants just absorb the information, whereas the kids' imagination leads to an array of possible scenarios starting with the phrase, "What would you do if … ?"

Werner is also the unofficial glove monitor.

"Remember, we're not blowing up our gloves," Werner said four days into a five-day session last week.

"Can we fill them up when we get home tonight?" one of the kids asked when Werner announced they would be finished with the gloves on Thursday.

But the gloves aren't the only thing the children take home.

Leif Woodford, 8, practiced what she learned in class with her dad all week.

"The first night she was having me pretend to be unconscious on the porch so she could assess me," Leif's father, Tod Woodford, said.

The Woodfords heard about the class at camp last year, but there wasn't space left when they registered. Tod Woodford said he's heard stories about young children saving the lives or rendering first care to family and friends.

After watching reenactments of burns and accidents on a training video, Tod Woodford said he had to explain to his daughter that what she had seen was actors in a movie and not real life.

But it's a sign that the kids take their training very seriously.

Werner said the little girls have been a little more skirmish about watching the video.

"They were all making sure that I wasn't going to show another video," she said.

Werner had her first aid certification when she was the same age as the kids in her class. Then she decided to become an instructor because for her job she needed to complete the training every year. Most often she's used her training for minor things, cleaning and covering cuts and scrapes and icing and immobilizing sprained ankles.

The biggest test came when she was driving with a friend to Eugene. A van flipped over and a person was ejected from the vehicle and she was one of the first responders to help the victim.

"A lot of the time you aren't confronted with life-threatening situations. But it's good to know" first aid, Werner said.

KidSpirit Director Karen Swanger said that first aid classes for children were first offered by her program three years ago when she discovered that there were six people on staff certified as Red Cross instructors. A class of fourth-graders at a local elementary school wanted to learn first aid, and the inaugural training session was a success.

"It really gave us the confidence that kids this age can pass the test," Swanger said. "Once we get past using the rubber gloves as balloons, everything is fine."

With children as students, the pace of the class is a bit slower so there's enough time to answer all the crazy questions.

"They'll watch a video and then their creative minds kick in," Swanger said.

KidSpirit has offered several sessions of first aid during the 12-week summer program and another one is available for a fee the final week, Aug. 30 through Sept. 3. Swanger said the course can also be taught upon request for groups of 10 or more people.

Fast facts

WHAT: First aid training for children

WHEN: Upon request for groups of 10 or more and through the fee-based program Aug. 20-Sept. 3

INFORMATION: 737-5437

Becky Waldrop covers public policy and education for the Gazette-Times. She can be reached at becky.waldrop@lee.net or 758-9510.