Photo of Josh Bernadeau at the Burnsville Fire Department. Photo by Josh Varnado
Josh Varnadoe loves serving and staying connected to the community. Before majoring in global health at Mercer University, he was a firefighter/paramedic and served in the U.S. Coast Guard.
Varnado, a senior who attends classes in Macon and lives in Lamar County, used her career experience for a class project that provides medical resources and information to the public.
His group created a project on fire and smoke safety as part of a lifelong public health course taught by Dr. Becky Larson, assistant professor of public health practice in the College of Health Professions. Each group researched an important health issue in Macon or the state of Georgia and created posters, activities, and/or handouts for the Atrium Health Navicent Family Fun Day in Macon on September 21st.
Josh Varnado and his wife Mia. Photo by Josh Varnado
Vernado secured donations of children’s fire helmets, bags, coloring books and other event giveaways from the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department and worked with the department’s fire protection team to ensure his group presented a consistent message. I tried my best to do it.
“Josh is passionate about educating families and public health students about fire and smoke safety, and has even written his own children’s book on the subject,” Dr. Larson said. “He has been instrumental in creating engaging activities, posters and giveaways to share. Josh’s passion for the subject is evident as he shares messages with children and families. I had a great time learning about potentially dangerous items.”
Varnadeau’s group also created posters with safety information such as the importance of smoke detectors. Sleeping with your bedroom door closed can save lives in the event of a fire. Keep a fire extinguisher and baking soda in the kitchen, where most fires occur.
“A lot of people aren’t aware about sleeping with the door closed. We want to get that information out there to help people and prevent injuries and deaths,” he says.
The Mercer team also guided the children through activities such as the game “What’s hot?” What’s not? ” and shared a virtual children’s book on fire safety written and illustrated by Varnadoe.
Molly on Fire is a children’s book written and illustrated by Varnado.
He wrote “Molly on Fire” for Mercer University’s INT 201 course in 2020. At the time, the students were unable to read to children at their local elementary school as they normally would, as they were in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. They were then tasked with recording themselves reading a book, and the video was shared with United Way and distributed to children.
“I’ve been an artist since I was 5 years old,” Varnado said. “I’ve been drawing for about 35 years. Ever since I became a firefighter, I’ve wanted to write a children’s book. This was an opportunity to write and illustrate that book.”
One day, his dog Molly was playing with a firefighter’s helmet, and Varnadeau decided to make her the star of a book about fire safety.
Mr. Bernardeau served in the Coast Guard for nine years and was a firefighter and EMT in Henry County for four and a half years. He had planned to become a full-time paramedic at a local hospital, but the pandemic hit and ruined that opportunity. At that point he had already quit his job with the fire department, so he had to make some big decisions about his career.
Interested in rural health care, he decided he wanted to become a physician and earn a bachelor’s degree in global health from Mercer University before attending medical school. His goal is to become a family physician who serves rural communities.
In addition to being a full-time student at Mercer, Varnado is a Coast Guard reservist and works one weekend a month as a health services technician at the Air Base Savannah Clinic. He also volunteers with the Burnsville Fire Department and local 4-H. Dolly Good Puppy Society, dog rescue operation. and the Parks and Recreation Department. The previous summer, he spent three weeks volunteering as a counselor at a Children’s Healthcare camp in Atlanta for children with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or life challenges.
“I volunteer a lot,” he said. “I try to get involved in the community as much as possible. When I take a public health course, I see all the different variables that affect the health of a community, so I wanted to see it for myself. Ta.”
Josh Varnado (left) is pictured 12 years ago when he was serving in the Coast Guard. Photo by Josh Varnado
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