Students in Lake Country doing a firefighting drill.
Image Credit: Lake Country Fire Department
March 23, 2024 - 10:30 AM
Some of the next generation of Lake Country firefighters got their first glimpse of life as a first responder this spring break.
The Lake Country Fire Department organized a Junior Firefighter Bootcamp for students in grade 11 and 12 from George Elliot, Mount Boucherie, Immaculata, Rutland and Vernon Secondary schools.
Students learned firefighter skills and ran through drills. They learned how to pull someone from a car wreck and use the fire truck ladder. Students even learned CPR, first aid, and how to use a defibrillator, according to a press release.
“I really liked learning the rope tying knots and was a little scared of the (self-contained breathing apparatus) breathing equipment and the ladder truck,” participant Marixa said in the release. “But we were given intense safety briefings and the instructors walked us through everything step by step. I connected with the firefighters and the other students in the program. It was a great experience.”
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The program benefited students and their firefighting instructors.
“This kind of training is part of our community involvement,” Deputy Fire Chief Kynan O’Rourke said in the release. “Not only does it give senior high school students some exposure to firefighter skills so they may decide to go on to a career in first response (and maybe a new crew of recruits for us in Lake Country), but it sharpens our members’ training and leadership skills.”
O’Rourke hopes the program will continue with another group of students next year.
“This is adult learning in a professional environment; this type of training will kickstart them after high school,” lead firefighter for the program Rayman Bassi said.
Students learning how to save someone from a car wreck.
Image Credit: Lake Country Fire Department
Participants and instructors for the Junior Firefighter Bootcamp.
Image Credit: Lake Country Fire Department
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