‘Best job in the world’
Twenty youths participate in Junior Public Safety Camp to learn about emergency services careers
The Chester County Department of Emergency Services held its ninth annual Junior Public Safety Camp Olympics at the Chester County Public Safety Training Campus for youths to practice their skills in the Tactical Village.
George “Beau” Crowding, Chester County Emergency Services deputy director for fire services, explained that the 20 youths involved in the program this year are aged 14 to 17 and are able to perform limited tasks on the fire ground because of their age.
“They want to be involved now and this is a waywe canhelpwith that,” said Crowding, who added that the program may help them discover their career paths.
During the week-long camp the youths practice and learn skills such as how to use a fire extinguisher, operate a hose line, fold tarps and tie knots. They also visit employees at their workplace to learn about careers in law enforcement, the fire service, EMS and emergency management.
Many of the students said that their favorite part of the program was going for a ride on the Philadelphia Fire Department Marine boat and viewing the operations of the fire department staged at the Philadelphia Airport. Many also said that they enjoyed watching the process of a JeffStat he-
licopter, a medical transportation, landing and taking off.
Ashley andRyanKramer, brother and sister, joined the emergency services in February after they heard from their friends who are involved in the fire service, and some volunteer with their relatives. They joined Berwyn Fire Company, nearby Conestoga High School, where they attend as incoming eleventh grade students.
Ashley serves in EMS and Ryan serves as a junior firefighter. Ashley said she enjoyed the hands-on skills on the fire side, whichwere new to her. Some skills were a review of the basics for Ryan, who said one of his favorite aspects of the fire service is training. They said they both have enjoyed being involved as first-responders because they like helping others andmeeting new people.
Ashley said she liked the visit to the 911 Center because saw the process of what happens on the medical side before people arrive to the hospital. She has plans to become a nurse or a doctor.
Instructor John Morris, 27, of Avondale, is a career firefighter at Baltimore City Fire Department and he also volunteers with First West Chester Fire Company. He began as a cadet at 14 with the Avondale Fire Company.
“I love it,” Morris said about firefighting, “it’s the best job in the world.”
He tells the juniors that if they want to become a firefighter it will be hard work, but he encourages them that it is possible if they put in the effort.
Morris earned his national firefighter one at Chester County, and he said that having that education and review of skills was a tremendous help when he went through the fire academy to become a career firefighter at 21.
Crowding said that the juniors look up to Morris as a mentor because he engages the students and helps them to think outside the box when it comes to firefighting. The instructors inform the students that there is more than oneway to solve a problem, and many share their experiences with the youths. Crowding said that the instructors are approachable and the students asked several questions because they were interested in learning more about emergency services and career choices.
Morris said that he likes that the juniors put forth the time and energy to improve their skills and to learn. Morris and Crowding both said that the fire service needs more members because there has been a decrease of members over the years. They hope that the camp keeps the youths interested in the fire service or leads themto another career in emergency services.
The program received grant funding from the Brandywine Health Foundation, which lowered the cost per person.