Pretend emergency to show Lemoore students how to handle a real one

COALINGA, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – High School juniors who are a part of West Hill College’s Jump Start Internship Program will get a chance to work with local first responders and see first-hand what it takes to handle a real emergency.

Students will participate in a mass causality drill on the Lemoore College campus as part of the four-week, annual project-based Internship program on Monday, July 29.

Dean of Career and Technical Education at Lemoore College Grant Ermis says for the past few years the Jump Start Program has incorporated the mass casualty incident drill, the difference this year is the campus will actually host the incident.

“Previously we had held it offsite,” Ermis said. “This time we wanted to make sure we could literally walk our high school students that are part of the Jumpstart program over to the scene, and actually apply some skills that they’ve learned in the Jumpstart program.”

Ermis says students will get the opportunity to practice what they learn in class in scenarios based on real-life situations alongside local people in the first responder and health career fields.

“We really focus on not just teaching them [on campus] and giving them some of those skills,” Ermis said. “But [also] letting them see what’s out there in our local community.”

The Jump Start Program features multiple career fields including culinary and industrial technology, but the program on July 29 is focused on First Responder and Health Careers pathway students.

According to West Hills, participants in the Health Careers and First Responder pathways receive:

• EMR & CPR Industry certification.
• College credit.
• $1000 scholarship for completion.
• Industry-standard attire.

“So there’s a little bit of an incentive for them, but the incentive comes along with that immersive industry-based job placement experience,” Ermis said.

He says students will also be able to visit places based on their career path including:

• Kawea Health.
• The Kings County Jail.
• Local police and fire departments.
• And more.

“When [students] finish their degrees and certificates, they can stay in the community,” Ermis said. “I think it’s also good practice, too, for our police, fire, and medics to just get some experience.”

Ermis says out of 220 applicants, only 80 students were able to take advantage of the program this year, but the annual July program will come around once again next year to give more students their opportunity for hands-on training with local professionals.

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