Protective Services

Program Information

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.


Student Information

Eligibility : Tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade students from Jeannette, Greensburg Salem, Yough, Mount Pleasant Area, Belle Vernon, Hempfield Area, Penn-Trafford, Norwin and Southmoreland school districts are welcome to apply (according to home school restrictions)

Age : Due to certification requirements, students must be 16 years of age to be eligible for State of Pennsylvania Department of Health and Pennsylvania Fire Academy certifications

Phobias : Students will be working in confined spaces, on ladders and ropes, in the dark and other situations not uncommon to public safety, but perhaps uncommon to some high school students. Your fears should not prevent you from enrolling. Many students learn to overcome their fears of heights, closed spaces, the dark, blood, public speaking and a few others on their way to completing the program.

Course work : Although you may have an idea of what public safety is about from your personal experience or television, most people are not aware of the amount of "book work" that must be completed in order to become a safe, efficient and effective police officer, fire fighter or EMS provider. The most often used pieces of public safety equipment are the pen and pencil. Practical Training : Aside from lectures and book work, the variety of hands-on experience is impressive. Protective Services students splint, bandage, do CPR, administer oxygen, search rooms, search people, perform physical examinations, use fire extinguishers, use fire hoses, climb ladders, climb ropes, rappel down ropes, use ropes to haul people from underground, work underground, wear breathing apparatus, use hand tools, use power tools, tear cars apart, talk on radios, draw, read scientific instruments, tie knots, use computers, measure things and even watch COPS.


Areas of Study

• career considerations communications

• definitions and types of crimes fire science

• use of deadly force fire prevention

• traffic control hazardous materials

• court proceedings rescue techniques

• fire behavior trauma care

• fire cause determination written/oral reporting

• medical emergencies vehicle/crimes code

• arrest procedures incident command system

Program Highlights

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.

Fire Fighting:
The fire fighting 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 both 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.


Certifications Offered

First year:

Pennsylvania Department of Health

First Responder
-44 hours State Certified EMS Program

American Heart Association

CPR-Professional Rescuer (each year)

Second year:

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Emergency Medical Technician
-144 hours State Certified Program

Pennsylvania State Fire Academy/Pennsylvania Department of Health

Awareness Level Vehicle Rescue
-16 hour State Certified Vehicle Rescue Program

Pennsylvania State Fire Academy/Pennsylvania Department of Health

Operations Level Vehicle Rescue
-16 hour State Certified Vehicle Rescue Program

Pennsylvania State Fire Academy

Recognition and Identification of Hazardous Materials
-4 hour State Certified Hazardous Materials Program

Third year:

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Basic Rescue Practices Technician
-64 hour State Certified Rescue Program

Pennsylvania State Fire Academy/Pennsylvania Department of Health

Technician Level Vehicle Rescue
-16 hour State Certified Vehicle Rescue Program

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Special Vehicle Rescue
-16 hours State Certified Program

Pennsylvania State Fire Academy

Incident Command Systems
-16 hour State Certified Program

Pennsylvania State Fire Academy

Structural Collapse Operations Level I
-4 hour State Certified Program

Pennsylvania State Fire Academy

Structural Collapse Operations Level II
-16 hour State Certified Program

Pennsylvania State Fire Academy

Trench Rescue
-16 hour State Certified Program

Pennsylvania State Fire Academy

Essentials of Firefighting Module I (Firefighter I NFPA 1001 Standard)
-88 hours State Certified Program


Post-Secondary Education

Emergency Medical Services (Paramedic Training Programs)

Center for Emergency Medicine, Pittsburgh
Community College of Allegheny County (training centers are located at Allegheny Valley Hospital, North Hills Passavant Hospital, Forbes Regional Health System Monroeville and other sites)
States Military, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, Marines

Westmoreland County Community College

Fire Training (part time only)

Allegheny County Fire Academy
Community College of Allegheny College Public Safety Institute
Pennsylvania State Fire Academy
United States Military, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, Marines

Fire Service Degree Programs

Community College of Allegheny County-Boyce Campus Monroeville

Police Academies

Allegheny County Police Training Academy
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Local academies are held in Butler, New Castle, and Pittsburgh)
United States Military, Army

Westmoreland County Community College

Criminal Justice Degree Programs

Community College of Allegheny County
Community College of Beaver County
University of Pittsburgh
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Duquesne University
Pennsylvania State University

Industrial Safety Degree Programs

Indiana University of Pennsylvania