Jonah Campana simulates rushing a fire hose to a fire during an obstacle course at the Brookfield Fire Department Junior Academy. Fire Capt. Steve Smoot follows him.
“Baby shark do do do-do-do-do, baby shark do do do-do-do-do.”
No, the members of the Brookfield Fire Department were not gluttons for punishment when they crowded into a small room with eight kids in grades three through five and encouraged them to sing “Baby Shark.” It actually was done to teach a lesson about their job.
The tempo of “Baby Shark” is the tempo you need to maintain when performing CPR chest compressions, they explained.
The fire department hosted eight Brookfield and Hartford kids Oct. 19 and 10 more Oct. 20 for a junior fire academy. The idea was to show young kids what Brookfield firefighters do and hopefully spark an interest in the kids pursuing firefighting and emergency medical response as a career.
“Overall, I think it was a huge success,” said Fire Chief David Masirovits. “All the junior firefighters had a blast. I think our message was relayed both in fire safety and the idea of what it’s like to be a firefighter/paramedic. I think that the message was well received.”
The chief explained one of the indicators that the message was received.
“One of the kids said, ‘I think I’m gonna be a firefighter for Halloween, now,’ and another kid said, ‘Yeah,’” Masirovits said.
Malinda Swearingen examines a thermal imaging camera. Firefighter Emily Stone is at left.
The day-long academies included demonstrations of wound treatment and car extrications; an obstacle course; putting on firefighter turnout gear, complete with breathing through airpacks; shooting water from a fire hose; escaping from a burning home; and rides in a ladder truck and an ambulance. There were even “sciency” lessons on how smoke moves through a burning building, how to interpret the smoke to determine what kind of materials are burning, and basic anatomy.
“I want to be a firefighter when I grow up,” said junior firefighter Esther Marshall. “I think it would be a really fun career and I would be able to save people’s lives.”
Esther said she understood that training to become a firefighter and emergency medical responder is not easy.
“It’s gonna be hard but I’ll still be able to help people,” she said.
Esther said she enjoyed getting to shoot water from a fire hose.
Kathryn Meckley, assisted by Tom Young, shoots water from a fire hose at a target.
Malinda Swearingen said career firefighting has been a topic of discussion at home because her dad considered it.
“I thought that it would be really fun,” Malinda said, although she admitted she’s no fan of heights. “My dream job is to be a firefighter. I wanted to do this.”
Malinda said she enjoyed climbing into a fire truck.
Jonah Campana said he liked seeing the firefighting equipment.
Benjamin Marshall, Esther’s brother, said he enjoyed the tour of the firehouse and seeing the equipment.
“I loved firefighting when I was, like 3,” he said. “I had a firefighter costume.”
Junior fire academy students practice CPR chest compressions to the rhythm of “Baby Shark.”.
Masirovits said he plans to hold another junior academy next year, and hopes the kids who participated this year will talk it up with their friends so more apply. He had to turn away a few kids this year because of the participation limit.
“We have some minor tweaks to make in the program if we continue to do it next year, which is the plan,” he said. “It’s timing issues. A little bit less in some areas, a little bit more in others. Being the first year, we planned for the full day and planned for the max amount of time we could.”
Benjamin, a fifth grader, was disappointed that he will age out of the academy next year and not be able to participate. He asked if there will be an academy for older students.
Masirovits said he has no plans to hold an older academy because of the logistics involved in organizing more than one academy, and noted older kids can attend the firefighting program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center.
However, Brookfield firefighter Tom Young will be speaking to Brookfield High School’s career-based intervention class, which explores work options.
“The more exposure that we get into the schools and into these young minds, the more we have a chance of reaping those benefits in the future of gaining firefighters and paramedics,” the chief said.
Smoke fills the room of a house simulator provided by Eagle Joint Fire District, Hubbard. Vincent Avery is in foreground.
Other junior academy participants were Lyla Saum, Kathryn Meckley, Eddie Mcintosh, Vincent Avery, Colt Shoaff, Montana Jordan, Colton Champ, Jake Saul, Evelynn Paddock-Richman, Zachary Bokros, Alec Swogger, Cameron Devitz, Madalynn Yoho and Daniel McQueen.
Sponsors and donors were Eagle Joint Fire District, Hubbard; Watson’s Towing, Hubbard; Jimmy Neno’s Pizzeria, Brookfield; Logan and Co., Brookfield; Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department; and Local 3443 of the International Association of Firefighters, Brookfield’s firefighting union.
Brookfield paramedic Tom Young shows junior fire academy members, from left, Vincent Avery, Esther Marshall, Benjamin Marshall and Jonah Campana an IV needle in the back of a Brookfield ambulance.
