Donated ambulance will enhance fire/EMS program at Falls Church HS

Falls Church Academy students in the fire and emergency medical course and their new ambulance.

The Falls Church High School Academy celebrated its receipt of an ambulance with a traditional “wetdown” ceremony May 30, as a fire truck sprayed the students with water.

The 2003 Freightliner ambulance was donated by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department for use in the academy’s fire and emergency medical services course. The Foundation for Applied Technical Education contributed $7,500 to outfit the ambulance with additional equipment.

“We are preparing students to save lives through their future careers, and this donation will help us make our community a safer place to live,” said Penny Kelly, the academy’s fire and EMS instructor. 

The fire and EMS program offered at the Falls Church Academy is the only one of its kind within Fairfax County Public Schools. There are 49 students in the program.

Since the program was established in 2004, more than 300 students have completed the course. About 160 of them have earned EMT certification, 125 are professional or volunteer firefighters or paramedics, and about 100 are employed in other health or medical professions.