Could you imagine graduating from high school as a hireable first-responder?
That’s what the Octorara Area Career and Technical Education Homeland Security and Protective Services Academy offers to Chester County students. Students graduate with 64 total certifications in the three main fields of emergency medical services, firefighting and law enforcement. Students learn from those in the respective career fields on a daily basis. Most of the students already give back to their community by volunteering as a firefighter or EMT.
“They are currently running calls now to assist the fire department or EMS,” said Lisa McNamara, director of Career and Technical Education Octorara Area School District.
Several of the high school students helped to resuscitate a woman in cardiac arrest, and others have assisted at vehicle accident scenes.