Team 911 Academy called a success

Thu, Aug 7, 2008    to del.icio.us

GRAND HAVEN TOWNSHIP — Not many people get the opportunity to rappel down their high school, but six area teens got the chance last week.

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The teens, ages 14-17, took part in the inaugural Team 911 Academy from July 21-25. It was designed to give them a taste of a wide range of Ottawa County emergency services and was about 95 percent hands-on, Grand Haven Township Fire Chief Tom Gerencer said.

"We tried to cover all the bases," Gerencer said.

Originally conceived by Gerencer and Deputy Tim Smith of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department, the academy was designed to give the teens a safe environment for them to get a first look at emergency services careers — such as firefighting, paramedical and law enforcement. The academy was something the departments had wanted to put on for a few years, Gerencer said, but were unable to do it until this year.

The academy included an ambulance demonstration with mock treatment, a demonstration by the Ottawa County Sheriff's K-9 team, a beach rescue including safely removing injured patients from Lake Michigan, and a crime scene investigation.

One of the favorite activities of the week was a high-angle rescue drill, which included repelling down the Grand Haven High School building, Gerencer said.

Brad Ayres, 17, said one of the highlights for him was using hydraulic tools to tear the roof and doors off a car in a simulation of removing patients.

Ayres said he wants to pursue a career in firefighting or EMS, and the Team 911 Academy helped him learn more about the fields.

Gerencer and Smith say they are already planning next year's academy.

"We wanted to keep it small this year to see how it went," Gerencer said. "We can go bigger next year."

They will be able to have a larger class with about 15 students, Gerencer said, and want to add activities such as various simulated weapons scenarios — called "simmunition" — put on through the Sheriff's Department.

And if next year's class is anything like this one, Gerencer and Smith could be looking at a new crop of recruits like Ayres.

"I enjoy helping people," Ayres said. "So I thought this would be a good way to give back to my community."