KLRU presents a special segment for THE EDDIE FILES on Austin, Texas Get QuickTime Player     KLRU Brings You a Specially Produced Segment of The EDDIE FILES KLRU-TV and three other public television stations across the country have participated in a multi-media project to create a local segment of THE EDDIE FILES. This is an experiment to see what television could look like in the future and is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The multimedia project -- which includes video, Quicktime video, flash animation and ultimately a DVD piece for schools -- introduces students to various careers that use math. KLRU's project explores how EMS paramedics use math in their jobs especially in calculating speed to assist their patients. The project is perfect for students who wonder why they must study math and what use it will be to them in the future. The goal is to peak people's interest in various careers and show the importance of math in those jobs. The KLRU film profiles Paul Holman and Bob Luddy, Austin paramedics who are on the city's EMS bike team. Holman explains that the bike team is used in special and crowded situations because often in those situations a paramedic on a bike can make it to a person in need faster than an ambulance. In order to make the bike team, Austin paramedics must complete a 10 mile ride in 45 minutes to show their strength and stamina. In order to train for that, Paul Holman said he has to calculate the average miles per hour it would take to complete a 10 mile ride in 45 minutes. He uses the equation for calculating speed to do that. Paul Holman said EMS also use that formula to determine how long it will take to send a paramedic to a person in need and what type of vehicle should be sent. Once the paramedic has arrived he or she must calculate how long it will take to get to a hospital. Bob Luddy explained that most of Austin rescues involve water and paramedics here receive special training for still water rescues and swift water rescues. Austin paramedics use helicopters as well as ambulances to help in rescues. "This is the job I love to do," explains Paul Holman. "It's fun to help people and I feel like I'm making a difference in some peoples' lives. A Web site accompanies the video and leads students through the experience of Isabella of Austin, Texas. As a fan she explains what she has learned while studying about speed at her school. For more information about the Eddie Files project or KLRU please contact Linda Schmid by e-mail: lschmid@klru.org or phone (512) 475-9049.

Just 4 Kids Dear Eddie About Austin About EMS Isabella Isabella's Friends Calculating Speed An Example Speed Game

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