Care For PA

Sixteen-year-old Lamont Adams had a date with death. He didn't know where or when, but he knew it would be soon. He had even written a brief obit on a napkin--"Lamont Adams was gunned down...�? The next night, the Philadelphia teen was shot 13 times in the street. He was brought to Temple University Hospital's Trauma Unit; but despite all efforts, Lamont died. And so goes the agonizing story that Scott Charles has recounted to hundreds of students who have participated in Temple's "Cradle to Grave�? program.

As the Trauma Outreach Coordinator for Temple, Charles directs the innovative hospital-based violence prevention program that takes youth on the disturbing, yet real, path of gunshot victim Lamont.

The program is a proactive and dynamic effort to help decrease the surge of inner-city violence. In Philadelphia, gun violence is all too common. Last year alone the hospital treated more than 500 gun shot victims. "This is a wake up call to youth. We want young people to see that there is no glamour in violence,�? says Charles. "So we walk them through Lamont's scenario--using his actual medical records to help them understand who he was and what he experienced after being shot. We want them to never look at violence the same way again.�?

Middle and high school students, as well as at-risk youth from area alternative schools and the Juvenile Justice Center of Philadelphia, are invited to participate in the program.

Inside the trauma room, where the most severely injured patients go, students see the real dynamics of how a team of dedicated professionals fights to save a life. A volunteer student (usually hand-picked by Charles) plays the role of Lamont as he lay on the stretcher with multiple gunshot wounds. Charles teams up with Amy Goldberg, MD, chief trauma surgeon at the hospital, to illustrate what actually took place when Lamont was brought to Temple. Twenty-three red sticky dots mark the volunteer's body--showing the exact location of the bullet holes Lamont suffered--in his front, back, sides, arms, and hands.

Goldberg is a giant persona in the small trauma bay, where all eyes are fixed on her. With very somber and riveted faces, the group watches and listens as Dr. Goldberg explains the tools of the trade--the needles, breathing and chest tubes, knives and clamps, intravenous lines, and the metal rib spreaders used to access Lamont's bullet-riddled heart. "Every effort is made to save life,�? she says. "But, sometimes, we lose.�?

Last stop--the morgue. Here, autopsy technician Greg Jackson, II, partners with Charles in this sobering and reflective exercise that imparts the finality of death and its impact on loved ones. "This is the last stop. When you arrive here, it's all over. We want the kids to understand that they don't want to come here,�? says Jackson.

Charles, who, in his youth, was on the periphery of violence and crime, enjoys presenting the program and understands its value. "I like educating youth about street smarts; laying out the game of life; and helping them make informed decisions. These kids are in our communities and it's in our best interest to help them along.�?

"We don't seek to scare these kids straight. We're just trying to school them straight,�? he adds.

A year ago Charles's team began collecting data to determine the program's impact. "We will track these kids from three to six months to determine any behavioral changes, or if they engage in negative activities,�? explains Charles.

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