Wayne-Westland Schools Host Vehicle Extrication Demonstration

The Wayne-Westland Community School District (WWCSD) hosted a Firefighter Vehicle Extrication Day to highlight the district's Firefighter and Emergency Medical Training(EMT) Programs being offered at the William D. Ford Career –Technical Center. Firefighting students performed the vehicle extrication demonstration on a vehicle donated by Ford. The event also provided an opportunity for WWCSD Superintendent Dr. John Dignan to announce future expansion of the program thanks to a $3.5 million investment from the federal government. U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib was also in attendance for the event, congratulating the district for its dedication to its students.

"Our fire academy was developed in response to the high need and high demand for law and public safety officers. Our students typically will do one year in the Firefighter Program and then a second year in the EMT Program so that they can stack those credentials to make them more attractive in the marketplace," said JaCinda Sumara, Director of Career and Technical Education for WWCSD. "I believe that the expansion of these programs will not only benefit our students but our community because when public safety officers come from within their community, they care." Expanding the program will include adding infrastructure to create a fire training facility, enabling students to receive immersive, hands-on simulation training right at the career center. Currently, students perform hands-on simulation training weekly at Wayne County Community College's Michigan Institute for Public Safety Education at WCCCD's downriver campus, requiring transportation.

Classes are taught by experienced instructors with years of firefighting and emergency response service. Classroom and hands-on training includes topics such as fire behavior, rescue operations, hazardous materials handling, emergency medical services, leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. Via an agreement between the school district and WCCCD, students earn college credits while still in high school.

"While the EMT and Firefighting programs are for our high school students interested in this career pathway, the program's expansion allows us to share hands-on demonstrations with our preschool and elementary students," said Cary Thompson, EMT/Firefighting Instructor.

Once courses are completed, students test and gain certification in State of Michigan Firefighting I and II, HazMat Operations, American Heart Association Basic Life Support, and Emergency Medical Technician. Once certified, students can opt to go right into the workforce while continuing further training, building on the college credits they have already acquired. Many fire departments do require additional college education. Senior Joseph Khater plans to continue with education after graduating high school this year. He says the program has been a positive experience for him. "Everybody's so motivating. They're always telling you to get back up and do it again if you get something wrong. It's encouraging and I'm glad they're behind me to keep going," he says of the program.

Senior Dujuan McNair, Jr. plans on attaining his EMT certification and attending Eastern Michigan University on an auto mechanic engineering scholarship. McNair plans to ultimately become an emergency vehicle technician. He says the program has allowed him to develop close relationships with the other students and instructors, helping him to realize the value of trust in such a risky career choice.

EMT/Firefighting Instructor Thompson adds, "There's no higher calling for me than to get in here and teach these students that are in high school to become great firefighters and more importantly, to become great citizens of the United States. We're really, really proud of the kids, we're proud of the school, and we're proud of this school district."