Course Description
The Protective Services Program is intended to present a comprehensive public safety education to students interested in pursuing a career or volunteer service in the fire, emergency medical, law enforcement or emergency management services. Since all areas of public safety must work together, and responsibilities often overlap career boundaries, the student will be expected to meet a minimum level of proficiency in all areas of the training program. The program also serves as a springboard into health-care, legal, industrial safety and public administration education careers. The primary focus in this program is personal safety and the interrelationship between public safety agencies.
Skills Learned
Some of the skills a student will learn are:
Emergency Medical Services:
The emergency medical services section of the program is designed to prepare the student to sit for the Pennsylvania Department of Health First Responder and Emergency Medical Technician certification examinations. The section covers anatomy and physiology; patient examinations and assessments; and emergency care for cardiac and respiratory problems, fracture, bleeding and shock, childbirth, psychiatric and other medical emergencies.
Law Enforcement:
The law enforcement section offers the student an overview of the criminal justice system and the police officer's role within it. The student will explore the development and structure of criminal justice and policing; the impact of the Constitution and Bill of Rights on the police officer; the Pennsylvania Crimes and Vehicle Codes; criminal behavior; corrections; investigations and evidence collection; patrol procedures; traffic control and safety; as well as arrest procedures and the use of force. This section will help to prepare the student to pursue post-secondary training and education in a criminal justice or criminology program, or to enter a municipal police officer training academy.
Firefighting:
The firefighting section will introduce the student to engine and truck company operations. The program covers fire chemistry and behavior; prevention and inspections; apparatus; fire hose, appliances and tools; fire extinguishers; water supplies; sprinkler systems; salvage and overhaul and ventilation. Students will also be eligible to receive certifications for Essentials of Firefighting Module I, Incident Management, Structural Collapse Operations Level I and II and State of Pennsylvania Fire Academy Basic Vehicle Rescue.
Rescue:
The rescue portion of the program deals with vehicle rescue as well as rescue with ropes and technical rescue. Covered are subjects such as vehicle stabilization, control of hazards, use of hand and power tools, extrication of patients, construction of mechanical advantage systems to haul patients from below ground, construction of A-frames, rigging of various rope systems, and construction of knots and repelling. The construction of temporary shoring systems as they apply to trench rescue and collapsed structures will also be covered in depth. Students will be given the opportunity to become eligible for certification by the Pennsylvania Department of Health as Basic Rescue Practices Technicians, Basic Vehicle Rescue Technicians and Special Vehicle Rescue Technicians provided students pass the practical and written portions of the state exam.
Interdisciplinary Topics:
There are many aspects of public safety that cross lines between police, fire and EMS agencies. Personal safety, radio and oral communications; disaster planning and response; stress prevention; development of ethics; incident command systems along with job seeking skills. In addition, students will be given the opportunity to become eligible for Hazardous Materials Awareness certification through the National Fire Academy.
Related Occupations and Earnings
Related occupations include Police Officers, Firefighters and EMT Workers. Earnings range between $13-$23/hour.
Post-Secondary Opportunities:
Articulated credits can be earned toward an Associate’s Degree at Institutions such as Lackawanna College and Westmoreland County Community College.
Instructors:
Mr. Dortenzo – Protective Services
Phone Number – 724-925-3532 x. 1380
Office Hours: 7:15am to 7:45am
10:45am to 10:55am
2:30pm to 2:45pm
Please leave a voicemail message outside of these times.