News

Calif. College`s `Drill Day` Exposes Students to Emergency Scenarios

Charity Lindsey

11/18/2016

Nov. 17--APPLE VALLEY -- As firefighters in training hurriedly packed on 50 pounds worth of protective gear, they were cheered on by dozens of high school student observers attending a Victor Valley College drill day.

The "two-minute challenge" to gear-up was one of many drills held during VVC's biannual multi-discipline event held on Thursday at the Regional Public Safety Training Center, providing a full day of challenging, "real-life" emergency scenarios for students to practice in.

In addition to offering training for VVC students who are pursuing careers as firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and law enforcement officers, the drill also served as a learning experience for the Regional Occupational Program students of several area high schools.

"By having the high schools out here, we're growing this program," VVC Administration of Justice Director Rand Padgett said. The schools attending were Barstow, Hesperia and Granite Hills high schools.

San Bernardino County Fire spokesman Jeff Allen added that attending the event is part of the County Superintendent of Schools' "Cradle to Career" program.

"The hope is that this entices students to engage in a career in public safety," Allen said.

Along with County Fire, officials from American Medical Response, California Highway Patrol and County Sheriff's also participated in the event, proving ambulances, fire apparatus and vehicles to create immersive activities.

The drills were held back-to-back, kicking off with a dumpster fire in the morning, and "escalating throughout the day," Padgett said, with an active shooter training drill in the afternoon.

"The purpose is for them to be exposed to all types of nature of calls," Padgett said. "It's about exposing, mentoring and coaching -- not evaluating."

The event also welcomed faculty from Palomar College in San Diego County, including lead Paramedics Instructor Sarah De Simone, who began her teaching career at VVC in 2007.

"The training and support I received at VVC is what propelled me and motivated me to pursue this profession," De Simone said. "We don't have a training center yet at Palomar, so I brought out a few instructors to see what it's like and observe today."

Since opening in 2012, the RPSTC has served thousands of students pursuing degrees or certificates and many of them, according to Padgett, find work immediately upon graduation.