Organization
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad (BCCRS)

Junior Member Program for High School Students

Duration
Recruiting now
•
Location
Hyattsville, MD

Opportunity Details

Ongoing

Remote

Recruiting now

Hyattsville, MD 20785

About this Opportunity

The Bethesda Chevy-Chase Rescue Squad (BCCRS) operates a Junior Member program to provide teenagers an eye-opening, developmental opportunity to be part of the fire and EMS community, respond to 911 emergencies, and provide assistance based on their level of training and maturity. The BCCRS junior members will participate in vocational training courses that certify them as an Emergency Medical Technician or Firefighter. They will be exposed to a professional environment with high service expectations where they will be expected to work side-by-side with adult members. They will be exposed to 911 calls ranging from the mundane to life-saving events. We know this provides an unparalleled growth opportunity to develop critical thinking and life-skills for the right teenager. It is not for everyone. Teenagers who are involved in highly competitive sports programs with inflexible requirements or have extensive extra-curricular activities which either the teen or parent judges are a higher priority than BCCRS membership and training requirements are not be a good fit for our program. All training is provided free of charge and may occur at various locations including the Public Services Training Academy near the Montgomery County Airpark.

In order to begin volunteering at the BCCRS, you need to be at least 16. If you are between 16 and 18 years old, you are considered a Junior Member. Requirements for Junior Members are somewhat different than for someone who joins at 18, but you will be able to progress through EMT class and Firefighter 1 and 2 for those who want to learn firefighter and technical rescue skills before turning 18.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Junior members must have reached their 16th birthday, and not yet reached the second semester of their junior year of high school.
  • Possess strong organization skills, ability to follow-through on commitments, attention to detail and the ability to be on-time and follow directions.
  • Acknowledge that this is a demanding activity during their junior and senior years of high school which must be prioritized in their time commitments only behind school and family responsibilities. Junior Member applicants and parents must recognize that while we prioritize school and family as important, some training course schedules and other important events may make scheduling vacations and other events a challenge.
  • Receive a fit for duty rating from the Montgomery County Fire/Rescue Operational Medical Service (FROMS). FROMS is a County-contracted occupational medical clinic that administers a comprehensive physical examination including a vision test, hearing test, chest x-ray, tuberculosis screening, cardiac stress test, blood tests, and drug screening.
  • Successfully complete a criminal background check, fingerprinting and inquiries to determine suitability of the applicant for a position of trust in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad and the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service. In addition, junior members must have a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) or better to be considered for membership and must agree to maintain a passing GPA.
  • Possess a strong desire to participate in a time-intensive after-school activity during their junior and senior high school years. Parents and junior member applicants need to carefully evaluate the time available in consideration with academic needs, competitive sports, part-time jobs and all the other activities teenagers participate in.
  • Acknowledge that training and certifications earned as a junior member can carry over to regular membership, however, there is no requirement that junior members continue on as adult members. BCCRS may prioritize training spots in certification courses such as EMT to adult members so some junior members may not receive their first choice of training.

    • To learn more about the training and duty requirements, please visit our website athttps://www.bccrs.org/join/junior-members/. Students may earn SSL hours for participating in this volunteer opportunity.

    Issue area

    • Public Safety

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