Citizen’s Academy
What is the Citizen’s Academy?
THE CITIZENS ACADEMY ALLOWS PARTICIPANTS TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE A FIREFIGHTER AND POLICE OFFICER. THROUGH HANDS ON AND CLASSROOM TRAINING PARTICIPANTS WILL COVER TOPICS SUCH AS FIRE BEHAVIOR, SEARCH AND RESCUE, EXTRICATION, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT, FIRE ATTACK, DEPARTMENT HISTORY, AND LEARN THE FUNCTIONS OF A FIRE DEPARTMENT. YOU WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO TAKE PART IN A VEHICLE EXTRICATION, SIMULATE VENTILATION, CONDUCT SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS, LIVE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TRAINING, AND ADMINISTER FIRST AID AMONG OTHER THINGS. FINALLY, PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO SPEND A SHIFT AT THE FIREHOUSE RIDING ALONG ON THE ENGINE AND THE AMBULANCE. THE FINAL THREE WEEKS WILL BE SPENT EXPLORING THE JOB OF A POLICE OFFICER.
Who can participate?
THE ACADEMY IS OPEN TO MEN AND WOMEN WHO EITHER RESIDE OR ARE EMPLOYED FULL TIME WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT. YOU MUST BE A MINIMUM OF 18 YEARS OLD AND GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION IS RECOMMENDED BUT NOT REQUIRED. THE CLASS WILL BE LIMITED TO THE FIRST 12 APPLICANTS, AND A WAITING LIST WILL BE FORMED ONCE THE CLASS IS FULL.
What is the cost?
THE ACADEMY IS FREE TO ANYONE WHO MEETS THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS.
When and where?
THE NEXT ACADEMY IS SCHEDULED FOR SPRING OF 2011. CLASSES ARE HELD AT BENSENVILLE FIRE STATION 1 AND THE BENSENVILLE POLICE STATION. ANYONE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING CAN FILL OUT A SHORT INFORMATION SHEET IN THE APPLICATION LINK BELOW TO BE PUT ON A MAILING LIST FOR THE NEXT ACADEMY.
THIS ACADEMY IS NOT DESIGNED TO CERTIFY PARTICIPANTS AS FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS OR EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, BUT RATHER ALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO EXPERIENCE THE JOB OF A FIREFIGHTER AND POLICE OFFICER FIRST HAND.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT CHRIS SANDILANDS AT STATION 2 AT (630) 350-3441 OR EMAIL AT CSANDILANDS@BENSENVILLEFPD.ORG