From Staff Reports
Cumberland Times-News
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CRESAPTOWN — The Center for Career and Technical Education is looking for a few good men — and women — who think they might want to save lives for a living.
For the fifth year, the school is offering a fire and rescue one-year completer program for juniors and seniors.
And for the fifth year, there are a few extra seats.
“It’s an exceptional program,” said Deborah Bittinger, principal, who is trying to stir interest among Allegany County upperclassmen. Adults can also participate in the course, which is includes training in firefighting and emergency medical care.
Students who pass the course are qualified to apply for national certification at the Firefighter II level and eligible to obtain national certification as an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic. An EMT Basic can give basic life support medical care, including airway managements, assessment of circulation and interventions such as CPR, tourniquets, splints and backboards for spinal immobilization.
“It would take nearly seven years, according to the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, to obtain the training and certifications that our students get in the Career Center’s fire and rescue program,” said David Smarik, assistant supervisor of CTE programs.
To qualify for the course, students have to meet general admission requirements, which includes being a member of a volunteer fire or rescue company.
“Our local volunteer fire departments are great to work with,” Smarik said. “Students can begin the program even with no affiliation to a volunteer fire and rescue company, and fire chiefs will come out and talk to the students to help them get on board somewhere.”
In Allegany and Garrett counties, there is expected to be a growing number of EMS jobs available in coming years, as volunteerism continues to drop and emergency calls continue to increase, officials have said. Allegany County employs 10 EMS professionals; Garrett County employs seven.
As part of the program, students complete and receive certification in the following courses: firefighter I, firefighter II, emergency medical technician-basic, incident management system, emergency response to terrorism, rescue technician, and hazardous materials operations.
In addition to classroom exercises, students participate in hands-on activities such as ladder exercises, structure fires, automated external defibrillator demonstrations and vehicle extrications.
Senior HVAC student Zack Wilt completed the Career Center’s Fire and Rescue program as a junior and is now nationally certified as a Firefighter I and II and in Hazmat Operations.
“The amount of training I received during the program would have taken someone on the outside multiple years to complete,” said Wilt, who wants to get a paramedic’s license and have a career in fire and rescue. “And at the Career Center, it’s free.”
During his time in the program, Wilt received an award of excellence from the Garrett County and Allegany County Firefighter Associations. He’s a member of the Mount Savage Volunteer Fire Department.
“The certifications I’ve earned look really great on job applications,” Wilt said. “The smaller classes offered at the Career Center give students more focused instruction.”
For more information on the Career Center’s Fire and Rescue completer program, contact the guidance department at the school at 301-729-6486.
Adults who are interested in taking the course should call 301-895-5934.
