Clearwater Fire and Rescue teamed up with Pinellas Park High School to help bring real-world experience into the classroom and give students a chance to learn valuable skills.
At Pinellas Park High School, students had the opportunity to participate in a first responder program. Through this program, students learn how to prepare for an emergency, and that it is more than just learning from a textbook.
Pinellas Park High School’s First Responders and National Guard Center for Emergency Management is a four-year magnet program that opened in fall 2009.
The program offers opportunities for dual enrollment, internships and job training with first responders. Students can also earn certifications in first aid, CPR, automated external defibrillators, homeland security and other areas through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Preparing to become a first responder is more than just learning; it requires practice and the right equipment. Students are now able to train like professionals.
Clearwater Fire and Rescue donated 13 self-contained breathing apparatus packs and 26 air bottles to help students train safely in environments where the air may be dangerous to breathe.
The donation is able to give students the chance to practice using the same equipment firefighters rely on during emergencies. By training with the air packs and bottles, students can build confidence and develop skills they may need in the field.
The equipment also helps prepare students for future careers in emergency services by giving them a better understanding of the tools and safety measures first responders use on the job.
A self-contained breathing air pack, better known as SCBA, is a portable system that provides clean, breathable air for firefighters.
Deputy Fire Chief David Kadau said being able to give back to a program that does so much for the community means a lot.
“It’s great that I grew up in this community, and it’s almost like Christmas time… you get that warm feeling by being able to give back,” Kadau said.
Purchasing the equipment would have cost the school thousands of dollars, but this donation now allows students to gain hands-on experience without real firefighting gear, at no cost.
Program coordinator and assistant principal, Andrea Goode, said she is proud of her students and their dedication.
“They’re [the students] amazing, they lead with their heart, they are dedicated, and they’re all about giving back to the community, so I’m always proud, so proud, and I cannot wait to see what they do in the future,” Goode said.
Access to this kind of equipment is crucial for student training; they will now be able to conduct mock trials of real-world scenarios, similar to those the firefighters they aspire to be encounter daily.
The program also gives students a closer look at the teamwork and responsibility required in emergencies. By working with local first responders, students can connect what they learn in the classroom to the challenges they may face in the field.
With the new equipment, students have more opportunities to build their skills and prepare for careers in public safety. For Clearwater Fire and Rescue, the donation is also a way to invest in the next generation of first responders and support the community they may one day serve.