Brunswick Hills Fire Department teaches kids firefighting and EMS skills at junior fire academy

BRUNSWICK HILLS TWP. — Kids learned firefighting and EMS skills through hands-on experiences with members of the Brunswick Hills Fire Department as part of a junior fire academy on Friday. Lt. Andrew Pavell said the stations are tailored to what firefighters and paramedics learn in school and what they frequently do at their job. Participants went through the following stations throughout the day: Agility test CPR and stop-the-bleed training Hazardous materials. Overview of the ambulance and emergency medical services Stretching the fire line and using the fire hose Tanker operations Technical rescue with ropes Vehicle extrication "We want to try to raise awareness of the fire service with the younger kids, middle and high school kids," Pavell said. "If they really enjoyed it, as some of them have because they keep coming back, that might inspire them to go become a firefighter or EMT." Every year, the junior fire academy's turnout grows with more first-time participants each year, he said. "I love that we continue to have more people," Pavell said. "Our goal is just to continue to make this a bigger and better program year after year." There is a shortage of firefighters in the area and across the country, he said. "If we can get a couple of these students to become firefighters, EMTs and paramedics, that helps minimize the shortage," Pavell said. "This is just a great job to have. You're able to help people, and I think a lot of these kids are seeing that and seeing the difference that this job can make." Other goals of the program are to give participants a better understanding of what firefighters do and raise awareness of fire safety principles all while having fun, he said. "(As a kid) you see the firetruck driving down the street, and you're like I want to do that, but you don't realize what all goes into it," Pavell said. "Within the middle and high school age range, they're understanding now a little bit more how to do jobs. It goes from I want to ride on the firetruck to being here, and now I know how to put on fire gear, cut open a vehicle, climb a ladder and that puts it in a different perspective." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.