Press Release

Metropolitan Education District 760 Hillsdale Ave San Jose, CA 95136 December 6, 2007 Joyce Monda, Public Information Officer 408-723-6461

Contact: Michelle Alaimo Public Information Office (408) 723-6464 malaimo@metroed.net

CCOC Launches Two New Programs: Emergency Medical Technician and Fire Science

Students enrolled in one of Central County Occupational Center’s new programs, Emergency Medical Technician and Fire Science quickly learned that their class at CCOC was like no other. Some expected bookwork or imitation firefighter and EMT gear and little hands-on training. But then the uniforms and airtanks arrived.

“That’s when we knew this was the real deal,” Danny Stoch, CCOC Fire Science student and a senior at Branham High School said. “The whole class was so excited when our air tanks came in. We just couldn’t believe the extent of this program.”

Matthew Palma, a senior at San Jose High School and a CCOC EMT student was equally impressed by the EMT class. “We are doing hands-on training and working with actual usable equipment.” Palma adds “the training is practical and something we could use right away in our lives.”

Students in CCOC’s Fire Science and EMT program work with EMT and firefighter equipment identical to that used in the field; such as, stretchers, medical bags, blood pressure cuffs, fire hoses and service ladders, ropes, self contained breathing apparatus and other fire service and emergency service medical equipment.

EMT/Fire Science instructor Phil Gonzalez said that CCOC offers the most extensive and realistic high school Fire Science program in Northern California. Both classes are team taught by Gonzalez and Oscar Tovar. Gonzalez is a retired San Jose Fire Prevention Officer (Fire Inspector) and Fire Technology instructor from West Valley/Mission College and a Certified State Fire Marshal’s Office Instructor. Tovar is a Fire Captain at San Jose Fire Department station 16 in East San Jose and has been with the department since 1994.

Those who wish to continue and become certified as an EMT or Firefighter will need to complete college courses before becoming certified. To become a certified firefighter I, students must be certified as an EMT and complete eight core college courses along with other requirements. CCOC’s classes give students a head start on the skills they will need to become a paramedic or certified firefighter I.

Upon successful completion of the CCOC’s class, EMT and Fire Science students will be certified in First Aid, CPR and to use an AED. In addition, Fire Science students will complete a 62 hour course by Cal Fire (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) which will certify CCOC students in wild land firefighting and first responder.

Those students who are certified and at least 18 years old will be able to immediately apply to work for Cal Fire (CDF) helping with forest fires across the state. The experience would be helpful in obtaining a firefighter I certification as students need to work one day a week for a year, upon completing their core college requirements, to earn their Firefighter I status.

In addition to Cal Fire’s support, both the EMT and Fire Science class have received the support of the Santa Clara County Fire Chiefs Association. The San Jose Fire Department’s Latino Firefighter Association (Los Bomberos of Northern California) has also provided support for CCOC’s program.

Several students from the EMT and Fire Science class were recently accepted into the San Jose Fire Department’s Explorer Post 888-a branch of Boys Scouts of America. Students in Explorer Post 888 meet twice a month for four hours and have the opportunity to practice skills they have learned at community events while learning on the job training with other SJ firefighters. Once accepted, students can remain in the Explorer post until they turn 21-years-old.

CCOC’s EMT and Fire Science class is open to high school juniors and seniors from six high school districts: Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District, Campbell Union High School District, East Side Union High School District, San Jose Unified School District, Milpitas Unified, and the Santa Clara Unified School District.

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MetroED is the largest career-oriented educational organization in Santa Clara County, comprised of high school and adult occupational, academic and community programs.

MetroED annually provides 50,000 diverse students with the skills to help them be productive, income-earning and tax-paying contributors to Silicon Valley.