Police Assist With Student’s Project

Staff Writer

EDGEWOOD—Nursing student Brandi Foster had a big project on the horizon and called the Edgewood Police Department looking for some assistance.

Foster, a student in the Trinity Valley Community College Nursing Program in Kaufman, and her classmates were given the task of organizing a public health fair at the main campus in Athens.

"We wanted a drug dog there, and that’s how I got in contact with Jackie," Foster said, referring to EPD Officer Jackie Buccafurno and her stable of canine officers.

Buccafurno, who is accustomed to providing the dogs for safety and drug awareness presentations, said she was more than happy to help.

"Their graduating nursing class had to come up with ideas for an information fair with all the booths being health-related. They wanted to know if we could provide some information on drugs, how to identify them and if we could bring the dogs," Buccafurno said.

She and Sandy Askew obliged, bringing K.C. and Samantha, both Great Schnauzers.

Although if the health fair fulfilled a course assignment, Foster said it had another, broader purpose.

"To the nurses, a big part of our job is teaching, so we’re always trying to get valid information out to the public," Foster said.

Buccafurno said she was impressed with the class’ efforts.

"It was set up outside the student union building and they covered a lot of areas. They had information booths about organ donation, a free blood pressure check, blood sugar check, information on smoking cessation…30 booths in all and a blood donation mobile unit," she said.

According to Foster, knowledge is power and a key to maintaining good health.

"The more people know about things, the more than can do to prevent (health problems) and parents can look for signs and symptoms in their kids," Foster said, adding that they were able to refer two people to doctors after learning they had high blood sugar readings.

"The more publicity we can put out there on these issues, the more we can help somebody help themselves," she said.

Foster, a 2000 graduate of Edgewood High School, will graduate in May and then begin the next big chapter of her life.

"I’ve already accepted a job at Children’s Medical Center, and I’m so excited about that. I love kids," she said.

Foster and her husband, Jason, have one of their own, 4-year-old Braylee.