Twenty-one Braidwood Central School students participated in the Rural Fire Service Secondary School Cadet Program last week.
Chris Quinn, the RFS District Officer for the Lake George Zone said the program aimed to teach “practical lifeskills” and “develop leadership, teamwork and initiative” in students to “foster qualities of community responsibility and service”.
The idea of it is to introduce young people to the RFS and what we do.
- Chris McGrath
During the one-week program, students are taught first aid, communications, how to operate pumps and hosework as well as participating in truck familiarisation and pumping excercises.
They also view a mock multi-service exercise involving the SES, Fire and Rescue and Paramedics. The students watch as a volunteer is rescued from a destroyed car that is cut open.
Mr Quinn said the practical exercises were a hit with students “really enjoyed getting out there and learning how to use the equipment”.
Chris McGrath, an RFS volunteer and cadet coordinator, said the idea was “to introduce young people to the Rural Fire Service and what we do”.
The program, which has been running for 10 years in Braidwood, is part of the Department of Education K-12 curriculum.
Students participated in a graduation ceremony on Friday afternoon.
