PINELLAS PARK, Fla. (WFLA) — Pinellas Park High School’s first responder program received donations from Clearwater Fire Rescue on Monday to beef up their firefighter training.
“I’m a lot proud,” said Andrea Goode, program coordinator and assistant principal for PPHS’ Criminal Justice and First Responder Academy. “Our kids are the first to jump into action when something happens. They are the first to volunteer, first to jump, and they know what to do.”
Clearwater Fire Rescue gave them several used self-contained breathing apparatus to train with.
There are 13 air packs and 26 bottles for them to breath new life into – which otherwise would have cost the school thousands of dollars.
“Interacting with those that are currently in the field, using the gear that was used in the field, it can be pretty inspiring for some individuals, and honestly, those are the type of people that we want,” said David Kadau, Deputy Fire Chief with Clearwater Fire and Rescue.
“I’ve always felt a call to action, like the kind of person who takes up arms and helps the community,” said Leonardo Romano, a senior at PPHS. “I don’t really know what else I’d be doing if I didn’t go here.”
The school’s public safety academy is dedicated to training high schoolers to become law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency personnel. They’ll use the equipment in mock scenarios that show some of the most critical scenes that emergency teams face in real life.
“It is eye opening to see how involved communities are and to see how amazing departments can be, not only to professionals but also to high schoolers who are trying to get there,” said Isa Ruiz, a junior.
Students in the program are already performing at a high level, earning top marks at state competitions. Goode says they are hoping other agencies might take notice of her students’ work and make a donation to invest in future life-savers.