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United Way program connects students to practical careers

June 23, 2023

About two dozen Orange County high school students spent a recent day getting a feel for what a typical shift might be like as an EMT.

The students spent part of the day on Wednesday, June 21, at the U.S. headquarters of Falck Mobile Health in Anaheim, a provider of emergency medical services and transportation worldwide.

Students explore the interior of an ambulance at Falck Mobile Health offices in Orange on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Orange County United Way’s United for Student Success initiative has partnered with Falck to provide EMT training to 20-30 Orange County students and introduce them to a career as an EMT. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Freddy Sotelo, medical director for Falck Mobile Health, talks about young people learning to become EMT’s in Orange and Los Angeles Counties at Falck’s office in Orange on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Orange County United Way’s United for Student Success initiative has partnered with Falck to provide EMT training to 20-30 Orange County students and introduce them to a career as an EMT. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A student practices learning CPR during a class taught by Amanda Brady, EMT and community educator for Falck Mobile Health, at Falck’s office in Orange on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Orange County United Way’s United for Student Success initiative has partnered with Falck to provide EMT training to 20-30 Orange County students and introduce them to a career as an EMT. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

As Amanda Brady, right, an EMT and community educator for Falck Mobile Health, looks on, Gabrielle Agor, left, of Anaheim, and Kenny Nguyen, center, of Westminster, practice learning CPR during a class at Falck’s office in Orange on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Orange County United Way’s United for Student Success initiative has partnered with Falck to provide EMT training to 20-30 Orange County students and introduce them to a career as an EMT. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Students pose for a photo next to an ambulance at Falck Mobile Health offices in Orange on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Orange County United Way’s United for Student Success initiative has partnered with Falck to provide EMT training to 20-30 Orange County students and introduce them to a career as an EMT. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Amanda Brady, center, an EMT and community educator for Falck Mobile Health, talks with students about the various equipment on an ambulance at Falck Mobile Health offices in Orange on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Orange County United Way’s United for Student Success initiative has partnered with Falck to provide EMT training to 20-30 Orange County students and introduce them to a career as an EMT. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Amanda Brady, left, an EMT and community educator for Falck Mobile Health, talks with students about the various equipment on an ambulance at Falck Mobile Health offices in Orange on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Orange County United Way’s United for Student Success initiative has partnered with Falck to provide EMT training to 20-30 Orange County students and introduce them to a career as an EMT. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Amanda Brady, an EMT and community educator for Falck Mobile Health, leads a class in CPR for students at Falck’s office in Orange on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Orange County United Way’s United for Student Success initiative has partnered with Falck to provide EMT training to 20-30 Orange County students and introduce them to a career as an EMT. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Students practice learning CPR during a class taught by Amanda Brady, EMT and community educator for Falck Mobile Health, at Falck’s office in Orange on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Orange County United Way’s United for Student Success initiative has partnered with Falck to provide EMT training to 20-30 Orange County students and introduce them to a career as an EMT. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

After exploring the interior of an ambulance at Falck Mobile Health offices in Orange, students, Rebekah Lee, left, of Cypress, Maggie Tran, center, and Gabrielle Agor, both of Anaheim, take a selfie outside of the vehicle on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Orange County United Way’s United for Student Success initiative has partnered with Falck to provide EMT training to 20-30 Orange County students and introduce them to a career as an EMT. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Using medical manikins, the students practiced CPR, taking blood pressure, dressing wounds, techniques to stop bleeding and other potential life-saving skills.

Students also explored the inside of an ambulance and all the life-saving equipment available to EMTs in the field.

The students were participating in the United Way of Orange County’s First Responders Academy, part of the nonprofit’s Youth Career Connections, a work-based learning program that combines classroom instruction with real-world experiences by connecting students directly to employers.

The goal of the Youth Career Connections program is to expose youngsters to careers they might not have known existed and were open to them, said Sergio Contreras, executive director of the United Way’s United for Student Success initiative.

More than 100 students recruited by the United Way in Orange County have participated in the First Responders Academy, which stems from a three-year partnership between the nonprofit and Falck.

The careers program also includes workplace mentorships, classroom speakers, industry site visits, the Summer Career & Life Prep Academy and the Start Up Bootcamp for students interested in becoming entrepreneurs.

“These opportunities that our employers create for our students give them that wider lens on what else is around them in Orange County that they normally would not see,”Contreras said. “At the end of the day, what we want is for students to have workplace learning experiences to explore those growing career fields in Orange County.”

And, with the shortage of EMTs at near crisis levels following the coronavirus pandemic, the partnership between the United Way and Falk is also an excellent way to expand interest in emergency medical service careers, said Scott White, Falck’s regional managing director for California.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to get kids who are maybe juniors and seniors in high school and show them what EMS (emergency medical services) looks like and take away some of the mysteriousness of it and give them a great experience,” White said. “We’re hoping to convert some of these folks into EMTs.”

Falck is awarding five scholarships to United Way students to pay for a formal training course, White said. “The hope is that by the end of the year, Falck would retain them to serve as EMTs for the company.”

In its first three years, the Youth Career Connections program has served nearly 1,200 students at 13 county schools, mostly in Anaheim, Garden Grove, Stanton and Westminster, Contreras said, adding that finding businesses willing to participate has been one of the biggest challenges.

The Youth Career Connections program falls under the umbrella of the United Way’s Student Success Initiative. The initiative recently wrapped up its e-mentorship program for the school year, which helps high school seniors stay on track and graduate on time.

“We are trying to create equity in Orange County by creating these opportunities,” Contreras said.

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