|
The
fire department wants you
Have
you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of a fire department?
Maybe the excitement of a fire
service career has always been something you wanted to explore, but you never
had the opportunity. Could it be you simply enjoy the challenge of lear ning
something new and exciting?
If any of these categories fit you,
then I may have something of interest for you.
The fire department has been
looking for ways to help people better understand how we provide services to
the citizens of High Point. To accomplish this goal, an 11 week program was
implemented that provided lots of actual hands-on experience as well as
classroom lectures. Sixteen men and women ranging in ages from 20 to 69
graduated from the first citizen’s academy on May 6.
Participants were taught how to
use fire extinguishers and tie basic knots, as well as some training in CPR
and basic first aid. Participants also learned how an automatic external
defibrillator used for cardiac arrest victims works. They were given the
opportunity to crawl through a dark building searching for a victim while
wearing the same gear that firefighters wear. They pulled hose lines and
sprayed water; they learned about fire behavior and smoke movement.
One of the most exciting parts
was working with the specialty teams. It brought this group of strangers
together as a team as they cheered each other on while many overcame their
fear of heights and tight spaces by rappelling off a four-story building and
crawling through an 18-inch pipe.
The academy was a huge success for
the citizens who participated as well as the fire department, and we are
looking forward to our next Citizens Academy.
Hopefully, I have stirred your
interest just a little, so let’s talk about a few simple requirements to be
eligible for the class, and remember, there is no cost involved, just your
time. You must be at least 18 years old and cannot have any felony or serious
misdemeanor convictions.
You cannot miss more than three
scheduled classes, and you must return an application by the required date.
You also must complete one ride-along on the trucks.
The next class will begin sometime
later this year.
If you are interested, you can contact
Capt. Denita Lynch at 883-8551 or via e-mail at denita.davis@highpoint.gov.
  Who knows, maybe sometime in the not-too-distant future
someone out there can use this opportunity to fulfill your dream of being a
firefighter. We look forward to sharing with you this job we truly love
doing. 24/7/365: You call; we res p o n d .
KENNETH LEE KNIGHT is a battalion chief in the High Point Fire
Department.
|
|
