How to promote a career as a firefighter or a paramedic to a population that has been traditionally overlooked? Set up camp, and send out the word. The Culver City Fire Department is offering a weekend camp for the second year to encourage local young women to think about firefighting as a career path.
CCFD’s Christine Coulson has worked for Culver City for almost three years, and is currently the only sworn female firefighter. “We have two more women in the program. and they are both on probation for (their first) year. Once they past that mark, them they will also be full-time firefighters.”
Coulson said that the department had been “wanting to recruit more women, and bring the community into the department, and when we had our first camp last year, it was a huge success.”
Nationally, only 11.8% of firefighters are female, and CCFD hope to increase those numbers.
The first camp, November 13 and 14, 2021, saw local girls enthusiastic about working with both fire and paramedic programs. The program is designed to provide individuals with a realistic hands-on introduction to firefighting & EMS (Emergency Medical) skills. Over two days campers will learn how to wear personal protective equipment, climb ladders, pull fire hose, CPR and more. Each student will be supervised by firefighters in a safe and physically challenging environment with an emphasis on building self-confidence and fortitude.
Teens of all genders are welcome.
This year, the camp will be open to locals, ages 14 to 18, with a limit of 40. Scheduled for Nov. 12 and 13, from 8 am to 4 pm. Registration will open on October 10, 2022, ticketed through Eventbrite. To register, go to https://www.culvercityfd.org/
Judith Martin-Straw
Photo from CCFD
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