Victoria residents will have the chance to extinguish a car fire, rappel from a four-story building and learn how to take lifesaving measures during a crisis through the Victoria Fire Department’s Citizen Responder community education program.
The program will take place over the course of three Monday evenings—April 13, 20 and 27—and a Firefighter Experience on Saturday, May 2, that will be followed by a lunch and a graduation ceremony.
The fire department previously allowed residents to experience firefighter activities as part of its Civilian Fire Academy but recently retooled the program to train residents to respond to common medical and non-medical emergencies. Even if first responders are already on the way, a few minutes can mean the difference between life and death, said Fire Chief Tracy Fox.
“We want this opportunity to empower our citizens to take action in an emergency,” Fox said.
Participants will learn how to control serious bleeding; administer hands-only CPR; and use an automated external defibrillator, an epinephrine auto-injector pen and a fire extinguisher.
During the Firefighter Experience, attendees will take part in different scenarios that firefighters encounter in the field, such as extinguishing fires and using the jaws of life.
The program is sponsored by the Victoria Fire Corps, which is composed of Civilian Fire Academy alumni and provides support services to the Victoria Fire Department. Corps representatives will be conducting a membership drive during the program and will be on hand to answer residents’ questions about the Corps.
Businesses and other groups may contact the Victoria Fire Department to schedule a Citizen Responder training. To learn more or to schedule a training, visit victoriatx.org/departments/fire/resources, call 361-485-3470 or email dwoodward@victoriatx.org or bmadigan@victoriatx.org.