Teens receive hands-on experience in emergency services

High school graduates interested in a career in emergency services will report on Wednesday, July 9, to the University of Redlands to participate in a week of intensive hands-on training, part of the award-winning Redlands Emergency Services Academy.

Each year, more than two dozen local teens with an interest in a public safety career attend the annual Redlands Emergency Services Academy.  The participants share temporary quarters for one week on the campus of the University of Redlands, are exposed to hands-on training exercises in fire and police operations, and are introduced to state of the art simulators. This program stresses the importance of a well-rounded education, as well as the value of an extended education to each of the teens in attendance.

High school graduates from the class of 2025 will arrive at the University of Redlands at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 9, for the 26th annual Redlands Emergency Services Academy (RESA).

On the first day of the academy students participate in formation and marching drills followed by an introduction to ethics and expectations for public safety professions. In the afternoon, they are familiarized with turnouts and personal protective gear from Redlands Firefighters.

Over the following week students will learn about crime scene investigation; arm themselves with airsoft guns and participate with members of the Redlands Police Department in simulations as part of their Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) training; practice police techniques for weaponless defense; fire weapons on the range and practice active shooter drills as well as firearms safety.

Firefighters will teach firefighting and search and rescue techniques, CPR, rappelling, and auto extrication and triage throughout the week.

The course also includes instruction in public safety ethics, social media safety and career pathways.

In addition to drills and classroom instruction on the University of Redlands campus, students will receive training during the week at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Frank Bland Regional Training Center and the Crafton Hills College Public Safety Training Center.

Graduates from Redlands High School, Redlands East Valley High School, Citrus Valley High School, Orangewood High School, Yucaipa High School, Beaumont High School and Bloomington High School will participate in the program.

RESA began in July of 1999 as a collaborative effort  among the Redlands Police and Fire Departments, Crafton Hills College, Redlands Unified School District and COMPACT (a Redlands business and school community) to offer new graduates of Redlands’ high schools an opportunity to experience first-hand the duties of police officers and firefighters. The University of Redlands has been a major supporter, providing facilities for the students and for instruction. Since 2009 RESA has been funded by a grant from the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation. Additional support comes from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and Crafton Hills College, along with donations from Stater Bros. Charities, Toyota of Redlands, Tom Bell, Redlands Police Officers Association, Redlands Professional Firefighters Association and several local food vendors. In 2012, the Redlands Emergency Services Academy won the Ruth Vreeland Award for Engaging Youth in City Government from the League of California Cities.  RESA also received the Hero of the Heartland Award at Stater Bros. Charities’ annual Jack H. Brown Heroes Challenge Awards Banquet.

RESA graduates have gone on to careers in emergency services, including several hired by the Redlands Fire and Police Departments.