KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- It’s a different kind of field trip for these high school students.
Wyandotte High School students part of Human & Public Safety Academy were put in different scenarios in the public safety realm at KCK Community College.
“We have a car wreck, meth lab explosion, domestic violence, and we have a homicide, suicide scenario for students to run through,” Wyandotte High School Career Academy Facilitator Robert Hofmann said.
Freshman Raymond Holloway is now an officer in a domestic violence situation.
“One of the witnesses was like you have to act like you're their best friend and stuff like that cause that person could be going through a lot and you have to get on their level,” Holloway said.
These freshmen led the way in what these emergency officials do every day.
“It gives them the opportunity to understand that we do more than just fight fires,” KCK Battalion Chief Morris Letcher said.
“It's more than just an option,” Holloway said. “It's a hands-on option. So with a hands-on option, it basically shows you, it lets you touch, you feel what's going on and communicate what's going on, like talk back and forth with the person.”
For these students, it was getting the chance to not only be part of the discussion, but also part of the action.
“It was heavy at first, but it seems cool like you can open a door easy,” freshman Alexa Castaneda said when holding equipment to break open a door. “I've seen car crashes before, but not seeing what they actually do, like they gotta break down the windows.”
Although they are just freshmen in high school, it allows them to get a closer look into a possible career.
“They can say I want to do this, or you know, this is something I really don't want to do,” Hofmann said. “But at least students have an informed decision.”
For Holloway, while these were just scenarios, he didn’t take them lightly.
“I know that if it was my sister or something like that, I'd know she'd want to feel loved and cared on even though what's going on and just basically if she needs help ,” Holloway said.
The event was a partnership among Wyandotte High School, KCKCC, and KCK fire and police officials.
They hope to continue and expand this event in the future.
