This spring, Clay County’s first responders will debut a free program to the public, FREA: First Responder Experience Academy. It will include Clay County Law Enforcement Center, Clay Center Fire Department, and Clay County EMS for an immersive program for the public.
The six-week course, held two nights per week, will allow attendees to undergo ride-alongs, in-depth training and simulations with each department. Attendees will receive hands-on instruction in a controlled environment and provide an inside look at first responder training. Participants may perform exercises like a traffic stop, putting out a fire while carrying an oxygen tank, attempting to perform life-saving measures in a moving ambulance, and more.
“We have some big ideas and I’m excited about it,” said program coordinator, Scott Fischer, police officer with the Clay Center Police Department. “It will allow citizens in Clay to see what we do and what we’re capable of.”
Fischer said the idea for the program was a collaborative effort among first responders, which came up as they were discussing a disconnect between what they do, and what the public sees.
“We said, ‘Well why don’t we have a training and teach them?’” he said. “Our goal isn’t to make money, it’s just to let people know we’re open to everything and we’re not trying to hide what we do.”
Each department will include two weeks of training, Fischer said, for a total of six sessions. He will handle the law enforcement training and exercises. He’s worked with Clay County as a police officer since 2018 and also works with EMS. Fischer has been in law enforcement since 2001. EMS sessions will be led by Gage Wilson, an advanced emergency medical technician. He has also worked in law enforcement. Fire service training will be led by James Gordon, who has fire officer training from Hutchinson Community College and KU, and has been with the CCFD since 2004.
EMS training will include:
-CPR/first aid
-Equipment demonstration
-Learning what training it takes to become a member of EMS
-Cardiac code demonstration
Fire Dept. training will include:
-Fire apparatus demonstrations
-Air pack demonstrations
-Attendee participation in operating fire hoses
-Techniques in suppressing fires
Law Enforcement training will include:
-K-9 demonstration
-Taser deployment
-Accident investigation
-4th, 5th, and 6th amendment application
-Dispatch and jail tour
FREA training will be limited to eight to 10 people at a time, he said, to account for hands-on training. However, multiple sessions will be planned, as long as there is interest in attending, he said.
Anyone over the age of 18 is welcome to apply, though a background check is required. Attendees may not have felony convictions, a current correctional status, or have any current civil litigation with Clay Center, Clay County, or its employees. Applicants also must reside within Clay County.
Fischer said the program will continue as long as there is interest, and a summer program for high school students may be available, pending student response.
Applications open February 1st. Classes will begin the week of April 7th and meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-10 pm.
Applications can be obtained and returned to:
Clay County Law Enforcement Center, Clay Center Fire Department, Clay County EMS, and Grow Clay County.
