Program Overview:
Students will have an opportunity to participate in a career and technology program related to fire prevention and control and emergency medical technology. The program includes classroom instruction as well as formal training at selected local fire companies. Students are required to complete a minimum of 138 hours of work-based learning and take the seven certification exams. The CTE pathway program is designed to allow students to complete all requirements and be certified in this area as well as have opportunities to earn college credit.
In most school systems the classroom training will be provided by instructors from the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI) of the University of Maryland. Students are required to be a member in good standing of their local fire company and complete the required services in order to be eligible to sit for the industry certifications. This instruction will be supplemented with field trips and various guess speakers.
The following components of the Firefighter/EMT program are delivered through MFRI courses and certification exams. The following represent the core set of courses; however, school systems will have the option of adding additional courses.certifications to the core:
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Fire Fighter I
- Incident Management System
- Emergency Response to Terrorism
- Hazardous Materials Operations
- Fire Fighter II
- Rescue Technician – Site Operations and Vehicle and Machinery Rescue
Flexibility in the number of credits per year or the number of years to complete the program is allowable depending on local delivery of courses. This program outlines the suggested recommended sequence. Articulation agreements are developed with the community college listed on the Value Added options chart (Step 2E). Completion of a two-year program at the community college listed on the Value-Added options chart (Step 2E) articulates to two years of credit in the Bachelor’s Degree program at UMUC.
Courses
EMT/Hazmat
Prerequisite: Student must be a member in good standing of a community volunteer fire company; must be 16 years of age.
This course is designed to train students to become Basic Life Support providers. Major topics covered include legal aspects of emergency care, infection control, patient assessment, respiratory systems, oxygen adjuncts and delivery, CPR, AED, bleeding control and management of soft tissue injuries, musculoskeletal injuries and management, spinal immobilization, pediatric and obstetric emergencies, crisis intervention, multiple casualty and triage management, ambulance operations, and EMS Systems. Each of the seven Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) written module certification examinations must be passed with a minimum of 70%. The practical evaluation must be passed according to a checklist based on U.S. DOT requirements. A limited re-test option based on the testing policy is permitted in each module for the written and/or practical examination. The Hazardous material portion of the course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills to mitigate a hazardous materials leak. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to analyze a hazardous materials incident; plan a response; implement the response; evaluate the progress of the planned response; and terminate the incident (NFPA 472, Standard for Hazardous Materials Responder Professional Competencies).
Firefighter I/Rescue Technician
Prerequisite: Student must be a member in good standing of community volunteer fire company; must be 16 years of age.
Students study the Firefighter I curriculum as developed by the Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute and the University of Maryland Students will gain knowledge and skills to safely and effectively perform basic firefighting operations as part of a team. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to understand and apply the principles of fire behavior; building construction; water distribution systems; ventilation hose streams; fire prevention; and inspections, ladders, and rescue techniques. (NFPA, 1001 Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications) The Rescue Technician portion of this course will prepare the student to approach each rescue incident with attention focused on the importance of proper operational planning and all related components for effective safe site operation, and victim management and equipment maintenance and inspection, with particular emphasis on vehicular and machinery rescue. Minimum passing score for the accreditation from MFRI is 70% in addition to a 100% on skill set evaluations.
Possible Careers
Fire Fighter/ EMT-B