If you think you may have a future police officer, firefighter or EMT at home you might want to consider signing up your child for the next Burlington Township Youth Police, Fire and EMS Academy, open to children ages 9 to 14.
This year’s academy will be taking place from July 8 to July 12 at the Burlington Township Municipal Building. A graduation ceremony will be held on the final day of the academy in Burlington Township High School’s gymnasium.
During the academy, children will meet and work with members of their local police, fire and EMS departments. Some topics they will cover include drug awareness, gun safety, K-9 demonstrations, fire safety, first aid and CPR.
According to Fire Official Matt Tomaszewski, years ago each department held an individual children’s camp each year before deciding to join forces and hold a single youth academy involving all three.
Children spend a day with each department, learning about what each job entails and participating in group activities and training.
“The idea is to expose them to all disciplines,” said Chief David Ekelburg, with the Endeavor Emergency Squad. “To give them an overall idea of emergency services careers and to try and spark their interest.”
During their day with the fire department, children are taken to the Burlington County Fire Academy where they witness a simulated car fire being extinguished by a team of firefighters and get to tour all of the fire department’s various apparatuses.
“Over the years, we’ve done surveys with the kids and parents to see what they liked and didn’t like. We’ve expanded and are doing more hands-on stuff with the kids,” said Tomaszewski.
Kids will also have a chance to experience what firefighter training is like. Activities include a quick-dress contest where they can suit up in real firefighting gear, an obstacle course and fire hose training.
According to Tomaszewski, getting to use real firefighting equipment is always a highlight for the kids, especially when it comes to the famous “jaws of life.”
“They love it. Just cutting a soda can apart is a huge hit,” said Tomaszewski.
In addition to learning about the job of a firefighter, children will learn useful skills they can use in civilian life, like how to operate a fire extinguisher.
For Tomaszewski, the academy represents a unique opportunity for children to meet emergency personnel face-to-face and get comfortable with people like them in their community.
“They see a fire truck going down the street, a police car, an ambulance and that’s all they really see. They never get to experience for themselves what we’re doing,” said Tomaszewski.
On their EMS day, children are exposed to life-saving procedures like CPR and bandaging and treating wounds.
According to Ekelburg, despite the serious nature of much of the subject matter, there is an element of fun involved with each activity.
Broken into teams, children will participate in races, transferring a mannequin “patient” from one location to another.
“We try and make it as fun and entertaining as possible as well as giving them some knowledge,” said Ekelburg.
For more information on the Youth Academy and how to register your child, visit the Burlington Township Police Department’s Facebook page.
