Carrollton Fire Camp Connects Students with Future Career Path

Carrollton Fire Rescue, in partnership with the American Heart Association, developed an interactive learning opportunity for community youth to seek out a career path in fire and emergency services through a $17,000 grant from Texas Mutual Insurance.

"CFR's Future Leaders Fire Camp is about connecting local young adults with resources and mentorship to explore a career as a First Responder," Carrollton Fire Chief Michael Thomson said. "CFR's goal is to introduce the idea of a career in public safety to teenagers who might otherwise never strive for that occupation."

High school students, including those who have aligned with fire and emergency services through career interest surveys, were invited to apply to the program by administrators, teachers, and school counselors from the Carrollton-Farmers Branch and Lewisville Independent School Districts.

Applications were accepted in April and 13 students ages 16-18 years were welcomed into this first-year program. Future Leaders Fire Camp was successfully held Tuesday, May 31 through Friday, June 3. Each day began at Carrollton's Fire Administration building in Downtown Carrollton and included additional activities at Fire Stations 5 and 7 for students to gain experience seeing different areas of the community and how the stations operate.

Curriculum included cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED), and Stop the Bleed first aid certification; Emergency Medical Services (EMS) education; fire extinguishing techniques; hose evolutions; pumping and search and rescue drills; roof ventilation; ropes rescue; and vehicle extraction. All students were given the opportunity for hands-on experience and one-on-one instruction from CFR personnel. One of the more memorable activities for the kids was an aerial climb on Engine 118's 75-foot ladder. Most bravely took the challenge.

"I was scared, but I'm glad I did it," one student said in the camp's anonymous evaluation survey.

"I liked how we were able to do a wide variety of both firefighting and EMS-related activities," another said. "I think it's a great opportunity for people who are interested in the field. It gives a good insight into this career."

"Best thing I have ever done," said a third.

"I'm starting to consider this as a potential future job," a fourth said. "I say the program was a major success. It inspired me!"

A representative from the AHA was on-site for the CPR/AED/Stop the Bleed instruction on Friday and handed out teaching kits to each student so they could provide CPR instruction for their friends and family members. The AHA and CFR believe the more people who are familiar with the skillset needed for CPR, the better. To support that belief, the AHA rep challenged the kids to teach as many friends and family as they could by the end of July. Whichever student teaches the most people will receive an Amazon gift card.

Graduates of the camp will be allowed to ride out in a fire engine as part of a CFR crew twice in the six months following the camp. One student has already taken advantage of his first rideout.

The Texas Mutual grant helped provide each student with CFR branded and personalized items including a monogrammed duffle bag, a backpack, shirts, beanies, and tumblers. Lunch and snacks were provided each of the four days. At the end of camp, the kids took home a framed photo of the group in bunker gear, an individual photo of them doing an activity, a certificate of completion for the class, and a certificate of completion for the CPR/AED/Stop the Bleed instruction.

"CFR's Future Leaders Fire Camp is about unlocking campers' potential through the creation of opportunities to serve the community," Carrollton Assistant Chief Debbie Carpenter said. "Carrollton's greatest impact will be in giving the campers the courage and confidence to fulfill their calling."

Carpenter went on to say that the 2022 camp was created in partnership with the AHA in response to Texas Mutual's potential distribution of grant money earlier this year. CFR hopes to continue finding ways each year to fund what has been established with this year's fire camp.

For more information on Carrollton Fire Rescue, visit cityofcarrollton.com/fire.

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