FireLink

I think it is a great Ideal we have it here in Miami Dade In one voc tech school all the students are interviewed and are seniors in school so the 3 R's are done and I helps them understand that everything is not just given to them you must earn it some dont make it through but the ones that do are great and I feel are better them some ffout there now

kbatista says ...

Here in the Los Angeles area, the LA School District has partnered with a local college to offer students a fire science program.  From what I know of the program, there have been a lot of success stories with regards to it helping to keep kids out of gangs and off of drugs.  As well as giving them a good knowledge of firefighting techniques, it teaches the kids discipline.  From what I've heard, many of the graduates even come back to volunteer to help with the new students, and many of them go on to further their education and apply for jobs in the fire service.  I think that it is awesome that it's making a difference in the lives of these kids, as it is giving them the opportunity to be involved in something that they might not have otherwise been exposed to or had an interest in.

Took the words right out of my mouth. :) In this day and age of negetive peer pressure, and lack of parental guidence. I would support such a program for all school systems. How different is a Fire studies program from a Chemistry or Physics class? You have students taking various advanced math and science classes but might not have an influence on their career choice. ........Just like the military syas, the young mind is easier to train and absorb information.........Explorer, Junior, Cadet Programs sponsored by fire departments too are excellent, why not incorporate them as a combined program?

Good topic, keep it alive and good luck with it.

I have to agree with puck on this one. The 3 R's are the way to go. Our poor kids can hardly read let alone talk in a dialect that you can understand. We need to get back to the fundamentals of learning and respect for our elders and others.

I think this is a great idea. This would help teach them dedication as well as team work. If there had been a program like this when I was younger I would have been in it instead of auto mechanics and agricultural votech type classes, although these are needed also my interest would have been in ems and all of the fields associated with it. Speaking of fields these kids would have a variety to choose from. On another note, it would have to be regulated and watched very closely for safety not to mention the level of maturity of the kids that sign on for something like this, they would have to be serious about it and if not, out of the program.

in ohio there are quite a few high school programs where students can graduate with a ff2 and emt b certs. however my personal feeling is, while some students may have the maturity and life exp to be a good entry level ff/emt, the majority of 17-18 year olds just cant compare to entry level ff/emts who are a few years older. ive seen a 18 yo emt on a medic unit who was giggling when he saw his first 12 lead established. its all about the individual. unfortunately you cant exclude certain individuals, because that would be "unfair".

In the state of Ohio where I live they do offer a 240/EMT class at the vocational school.  The students attend during their Junior and Senior year.  Personally I think the class is fantastic!  The class is stretched over a 2 year period which I think is one of the strong points.  I know that it was very difficult for me when I took my EMT course that was crammed into 3 months.  Trying to work a full time job, still volunteering and going to class and getting your training hours in at the hospital was a nightmare for me.  When these students are interested in Firefighting as a career or being a volunteer I think that the younger they start getting their knowledge the better.  My son is enrolled in the program for this year and he is estactic.  Of course he is going to out rank his "Mom" when he gets out lol......but I am so proud of him for making it into the class.  There are very few spots that are open and he was one of the lucky ones.   

In Wenatchee, WA there is school the North Central Tecnical Skill Center were they have a Firefighting Training. I went there as I going through High School my junior and senior year. Basically you come out with Fire Fighter Type 2, Hazmat Awarness and Wildland Firefighter Type II. With that training alone I got a federal job as a Range Tech-Fire(Temp) through the Burea of Land Management. Basically of no onn knows what that is a Wildland Firefighter.

So yes High School's should come up with a Firefighting program for High School students. Its a great career for many but not all.

Ya i think that High Schools should deffinitly teach firefighting.  I myself am a rising senior and i didnt take it in HS but my friends who have said that it has helped them out when they are asked to do something at the firehouse.

I find it to be an amazing idea. I live in northern IN. Didn't have an idea in the world of what i wanted to be until i became a lifeguard and decided to take a EMT class at the local Career Center my senior year.  There was a class that taught firefighting next to my class.   Granted, high school students aren't always mature, but it's a good idea if that's what they really want to do.  They learned all that they needed to under the instruction of a retired firefighter paramedic that doesn't put up with crap.   Our career center is one of the highest ranked in the state, if not the nation.

Sure, basics are great, but you can't tell me that students such as myself should be made to stay in high school for 8 hours a day learning nothing but straight basics when it's the challenge they need.  I graduated with high academic honors from my high school and a 4.0 at the career center.  The career center gives skills and preparation needed for the students that are serious in becoming firefighters and paramedics.

I took fire fighitng in high school and its taught me alot of different things, things i wouldn't have come to relieze until who knows how long down the road. its a great thing and a great way to get ahead on your dreams. it opens new doors to you and it shows if you really want this as a job.

in very few select school's near buffalo (but not in the city of buffalo) some schools offer ems courses.

the only problem with offerins ems classes in high schools is that most students are not 18, and the legal age of a nys ems student is 18 years of age/or the student has to be 18 by the end of the course.

  There are a couple of schools here that have offered a class about wildland firefighting. More of an exploratory class since you still have to go through basic training with whoever you hire on with. But it gives them an idea of what the job is about before they join and find out halfway through the job is not for them.

   As for the basics of education needing to be covered, yes they do but the trouble there is with other things besides adding electives.

I know in my area they do not offer specific classes. There is a small program but it isnt in the better of the schools and the program is hard to get into while maintaining the regular classes needed to graduate. I think that having classes like this in school would be awesome! It would really help students get an idea of what being a firefighter is actually like.