High school graduates interested in a career in emergency services went through a week of intensive hands-on training this month, part of the award-winning Redlands Emergency Services Academy.
Each year, some two dozen local teens with an interest in a public safety career attend the annual Redlands Emergency Services Academy. The participants share temporary quarters for one week on the campus of the University of Redlands, are exposed to hands-on training exercises in fire and police operations, and are introduced to state of the art simulators. This program stresses the importance of a well-rounded education, as well as the value of an extended education to each of the teens in attendance.
High school graduates from the class of 2019 arrived at the University of Redlands at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 10, for the 21st annual Redlands Emergency Services Academy (RESA). By 9:15 a.m. they were participating in formation and marching drills and by afternoon learning CPR from Redlands Firefighters.
Over the following week students will suit up in protective gear, arm themselves with airsoft guns and participate with members of the Redlands Police Department in simulations as part of their Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) training; practice police techniques for weaponless defense; fire weapons on the range and learn about pursuit driving at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Academy.
Firefighters will teach firefighting and search and rescue techniques, rappelling, and auto extrication and triage throughout the week.
The course also includes instruction in public safety ethics, social media safety and career pathways.
Graduates from Redlands High School, Redlands East Valley High School, Citrus Valley High School, Grove High School, Arrowhead Christian Academy, Yucaipa High School and Bloomington High School will participate in the program.
RESA began in July of 1999 as a collaborative effort among the Redlands Police and Fire Departments, Crafton Hills College, Redlands Unified School District and COMPACT (a Redlands business and school community) to offer new graduates of Redlands' high schools an opportunity to experience first-hand the duties of police officers and firefighters. Since 2009 RESA has been funded by a grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Additional funding comes from donations from Stater Bros. Charities, Toyota of Redlands, Tom Bell, Redlands Police Officers Association, Redlands Professional Firefighters Association, Yucaipa Unified School District, and several local food vendors. In 2012, the Redlands Emergency Services Academy won the Ruth Vreeland Award for Engaging Youth in City Government from the League of California Cities. RESA was most recently received the Hero of the Heartland Award at Stater Bros. Charities’ annual Jack H. Brown Heroes Challenge Awards Banquet.
RESA graduates have gone on to careers in emergency services, including several hired by the Redlands Fire and Police Departments.