Former Ill. Paramedic Uses Zombie Apocalypse Theme to Teach Ill. First Responders About Preparedness, Mental Health
Sept. 23--PEORIA -- Anyone showing up late for Thursday evening's presentation Dr. Dave Powers made at the Illinois State Ambulance Conference may have gotten the wrong idea.
"Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse" was the title of the talk, a program that Powers, a resident of Chattanooga, Tenn., said he presents about 20 times a year.
"I often give the presentation at comic book conventions, but I tailor it to the audience. In this case, with first responders, it's about preparedness. My message is to always be aware of what's going on around you," he said.
A former Marine who spent 10 years as a paramedic before becoming a doctor of psychology, Powers spends a lot of time on the road these days. "I went from fixing bodies to messing with people's minds."
Powers said his programs may be humorous, but he's serious about mental health.
"I think it's important that we get rid of the stigma that often accompanies mental problems. I'd like to see a day when mental health counseling is as routine as job counseling," he said.
In his zombie presentation at the Peoria Marriott Pere Marquette, Powers fired questions at those assembled over dinner regarding a variety of zombie movies. "What film featured a green comet responsible for creating zombies?" he asked before explaining that it was the 1968 film "Night of the Living Dead." "It's a film that I let my kids watch. It's mild compared to what's on TV these days."
"I told you I was a zombie geek," said Powers, 41, showing a slide of him kneeling in the Pennsylvania cemetery where "Night" was filmed.
Other zombie movie references followed as Powers related the possibility of a zombie apocalypse to the spread of present-day problems like the Zika virus.
Linking the eating disorder pica, where people eat things like nails, buttons or stones, to the rabies virus sets up the hypothetical possibility for something like a zombie apocalypse to occur, he said.
"The question is, 'When it happens, will you be prepared?'" he asked, tongue in cheek.
Powers reminded first responders that fitness was part of being prepared.
"In the movies, (paramedics) are always the first to show up and die. You need good cardio to run from a zombie," he laughed.
The father of four with a fifth on the way, Powers said that since he home-schools his children, he often travels with them. "Benaiah, my 9-year-old, came with me to Peoria. We visited the Caterpillar Visitors Center and Riverfront Museum this afternoon," he said.
The ambulance conference runs through Friday.
Steve Tarter can be reached at 686-3260 and starter@pjstar.com. Follow him at Twitter @SteveTarter.
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