NATCHEZ — Students at Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Natchez Campus will be fully equipped to enter the respiratory care field when it is time to graduate.

Thanks to the latest respiratory technology and dedicated instructors, Co-Lin students can be comfortable transitioning from the classroom to hospitals and respiratory care centers across the country.

The respiratory care program is located in the Howell C. Garner Instructional Center, the campus’ newest building.

Walt Wilson, director of the respiratory care program, with clinical director Janay Perkins, underwent training last week on two new cutting edge respiratory technologies.

Wilson and Perkins learned the functions and capabilities of IOS, or impulse oscillometry. IOS is a pulmonary function device that tests airway resistance and reactants. They were also trained on the function of the “body box,” a similar device that measures respiratory resistance in a pressurized chamber.

Common respiratory equipment often requires patients to blow, inhale deeply or pant. The IOS involves regular breathing, which is great for children, the elderly or people with chronic lung problems.

“Patients can breathe normally with the IOS,” Deborah Turk, clinical trainer, said. “It doesn’t require any special breathing maneuvers, like breath-holding.”

Turk said the IOS sends impulses down airways, measures resistance and emits a reading.

Nine Co-Lin students will be the first to be trained on the IOS in June, and Turk said they will have the upper hand as they enter the workforce.

“This is cutting edge equipment,” Turk said. “Students will have an advantage because they have already used the equipment before they get to a hospital. It makes them more hirable. And I am not aware of any other community colleges who have an IOS.”

Wilson and Perkins are anxious to train the students, and get started on their pediatric asthma medications research.

“Working with the IOS equipment will help with our research,” Perkins said.

Wilson and Perkins were awarded a grant for their research with the help of Southwest Mississippi Electric Power Association.

Perkins, who has asthma, tried out the IOS before using her inhaler and after.

“We’re not only learning the equipment,” Perkins said. “I’m learning about my own asthma too.”

Wilson and Perkins said they are thankful that Co-Lin is so supportive of the program and their research. The respiratory care program boasts 100 percent pass-rate on board tests and 100 percent job-placement.

“This is one piece of equipment we really pushed to get,” Wilson said. “It’s a cool thing. Patients can just get on it and breathe. It’s going to help kids and expose students to our research.”

Wilson said it’s surprising how many children have asthma. The research will be conducted over years. Children will come into the research program as first-graders, and return for testing and data collection through the sixth-grade.

“We are hoping to find a good pool of kids’ parents to work with us,” Wilson said. “It’s also about educating kids and letting doctors know if they need to change (asthma medications). Then we will redo the education.”

Wilson said he and Perkins will also collect data on hospital stays and visits, school absences and deaths.

Wilson and Perkins said they are interested in researching pediatric asthma because children with breathing issues are victims of heredity, environment or neglect.

For those interested in participating in the pediatric research, Perkins said to contact the respiratory care department at Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Natchez Campus.