McLeod Emergency Physician Dr. Katie Jennings is pictured with Florence County Sheriff’s Department Captain Wayne Howard at Camp Pee Dee Pride on June 21. Howard credits Dr. Jennings and the ED team for saving his life.

As a part of its community outreach efforts, McLeod Health is sponsoring the Florence County Sheriffs Office’s Camp Pee Dee Pride this summer at Francis Marion University. This camp provides children in Florence County with a summer experience that includes activities and games and teaches respect for law enforcement. Now in its 21st year, an estimated 6,000 children from all walks of life have enjoyed the two-week long, day camp experience.

To open the morning events on June 21, Captain Wayne Howard, the camp’s coordinator, welcomed McLeod Emergency Physician Dr. Katie Jennings to the camp and thanked her for the lifesaving care he received at McLeod when he coded in the Emergency Department in March. Debbie Whisenhunt, the McLeod Cardiovascular Outreach Coordinator, joined Dr. Jennings to educate the children on how to recognize a heart attack or stroke and what they should do if their parents or grandparents experience one.

McLeod Safe Kids, McLeod Heart Reach and McLeod Child Reach also visited the camp to educate the children on the importance of having a safe summer. Safe Kids educated the more than 100 participating campers on seat belt safety while McLeod Paramedics explained the importance of emergency care and gave tours of the two ambulances.