A DAY IN THE LIFE
Tech School students get lessons from cops, firefighters in exercises
DARBY TOWNSHIP >> For 35 students at Delaware County Technical School it was a day for hands-on experience to learn from police, firefighters and EMTS at the Delaware County Emergency Training Center. It was a day to see if individuals participating had it in them to pursue a career in fields that demand bravery and keeping your wits while under a great deal of pressure.
Delcoville was hopping at, the Delaware County Emergency Training Center. Students under supervision took control of pseudo situations that felt real. How would you handle a hostage situation, go into a burning building or save someone having a heart attack? Many of the students participating are planning to pursue a career in Emergency Protection Services. This was their chance to get out of the classroom, away from the books and the lectures to real live settings.
Students worked side by side with firefighters climbing towers with hoses and putting out fires while gaining the experience from seasoned firefighters. Police showed students what it would be like to get call for criminal activity and respond. EMTs walk them through emergency care on the street.
Bill Richard, the emergency and protection services teacher has coordinated this simulated event for three years at the Emergency Services Training Center. “The Day in the Life” call started in 2005. Fifteen of his graduates who are pursuing careers came back to help out. Richard even had his family helping out. His wife, Nancy carried a clipboard lending a hand with coordination. His daughter Keziah Utsler acted as one of the victims.
“His students had three saves and haven’t even graduated yet,” said Nancy.
“One was a baseball umpire who had a heart attack, one performed the Heimlich method in a restaurant and one was driv-
ing by and saw someone lying there and got out of the car and called 911, “said Nancy.
Morton Police Officer Joseph LaSpina Jr. graduated in 2011. Before becoming a police officer he took classes at the technical school. Today he was volunteering his time.
“This is a great program. This is a good pre-academy class for the police. It shows the kids what the academy will be like. It inspired me to do what I am doing,” said LaSpina.
LaSpina’s friend and fellow volunteer firefighter Brett Stairiker will be graduating in 2017 and hopes to become a police officer too. He was waiting for the next call.
For Colton Haywood going to the technical school and being involved in the class is leading him on the path to Neumann University to study criminal justice.
“I didn’t know really what I wanted to do I took the emergency medical service course last year. I took fire and police this year to see which one I liked best. Policing caught my eye,” said Haywood.
Taking the emergency protection services and afternoon fire and police course he is ranked lieutenant. At the school becoming the lieutenant in his class not only shows his acquired skills but his academic excellence.
“This is my second year in the program and first year doing this training. I think, for, how hectic it is, it has played out pretty good. Calls are going out and being answered on time. Everyone is going to the right places. It’s a good learning experience. It’s better to learn it now before you are facing trouble and the injured. You want to get it right for the future,” said Haywood, a Nether Providence resident.
Haywood‘s mom Michelle was glad that her son has found a career path through the program which went way beyond this day and was looking to go to college for criminal justice.
“One of the things different about vocational tech schools today is that they are pushing college education as well as training. You get to know everything about the training. Then you go to college and get your degree in criminal justice or emergency management. You can go much further in the trade than you could have if you went to the police academy or straight to college. These young people are really dedicated to what they are doing,” said Haywood’s mom.
A call came out and students took their position. A man was lying on the ground (a dummy) and the EMT students checked for pulse, performed CPR and moved the patient gingerly to the ambulance.
A firefighter fell to the ground after a working fire. Firefighters surrounded him. The ambulance came and the EMT’s (students) checked his breathing. Firefighters lifted him on to the stretcher as the EMTs worked on him.
Students had a chance to not only practice but to see things through the eyes of those who work every day in these fields discussing not only techniques but the sacrifices they make and why.
Jazyme Williams is following in her uncle’s footsteps. Her uncle is Capt. Shawn Evans at S.M. Vauclain Fire Co. She is a firefighter at Vauclain. She will graduate in 2018. Evans has been a firefighter for 12 years. His dad, Dennis Evans, is a retired chief. He served for over 40 years as a volunteer.
“This is a great experience. I want to work in the medical field as an EMT. I am getting a career out of all of this. Today I will experience a search and rescue, building fire and motor vehicle accident,” said Williams.
As a junior firefighter she has seen her uncle serve his community. It is why she is looking to go into a medical field.
“This is our first year doing this with DCTS. My niece is in the class. This makes us third generation. I followed in my father’s footsteps and now my niece is following us. I have been doing this for 12 years. My father is doing this for 40 to 50 years. He served as a chief in 1980. We are here to help the community and to serve the community,” said Evans.
Some have already picked their career path and were there to observe.
Erica Barrett, Leedom resident, approached a member of Norwood Fire Co. at Wawa asking questions if it was possible to do a ride along. The ride was a stepping stone for the 2016 Ridley grad leading her on her career path.
“Ever since I started at Norwood I loved it so much. I am just observing today. I am going for my test for EMT. I passed my practical and I am going for my written. I want my EMT for experience. My goal is to be a trauma nurse. I do hands on and blood pressure at the firehouse getting practical experience. I ask lots of questions. I meet different people and help people out,” said Barrett.
Eric Perna of Yeadon is a volunteer firefighter at Yeadon Fire Company. His father Robert is a life member for 32 years and assistant chief. Perna finished fire school last year while a senior at DCTS. He just finished Boot Camp and is going to Camp Geiger for combat training.
“I was in this class to get my EMT but never got it. I wish I had taken it more seriously than I did. But Mr. Richard taught me a lot of life lessons. He taught me that there is more than what you think you can do. To keep your eyes on that,” said Perna.
Some students who experience a Day in the Life of an emergency worker realize that this isn’t for them but leads to other career paths. Still they are inspired by Richard to serve their communities beyond the school setting.