'Emergency response units in Lanark County organize a camp: Empowering young women to explore career opportunities and boost female recruitment in various fields'
The Lanark County Female First Responders Camp is set to return for its third year, offering self-identifying young women aged 15 to 20 from Lanark County the opportunity to gain practical emergency response skills and explore careers in firefighting, law enforcement, paramedic, and related fields.
Organised by Madison Hainstock, a volunteer firefighter with the Perth fire department, the camp will take place on October 17 (6–9 pm) and October 18 (9 am–5 pm) at Perth Fire Services in Ontario. This year, the camp will accommodate 36 participants, an increase from previous years.
The immersive program aims to equip participants with hands-on training from local emergency experts, including fire departments, paramedic services, police services, and provincial authorities. Young women will learn to use personal protective equipment, perform first aid and CPR, manage emergency scenes, and execute techniques such as auto extraction and search and rescue.
In addition to practical training, the camp fosters connection between young women and experienced professionals to encourage interest in emergency services careers and support female representation in these fields. The program seeks to empower participants with skills, confidence, and knowledge to pursue careers as female first responders, addressing gender representation gaps in emergency response departments.
Madison Hainstock emphasises the importance of having men involved in the camp, stating that it helps create a positive environment for young women. She finds joy in seeing young women push their boundaries during the camp, such as participating in physical exercises like auto-extrication.
The camp is not exclusive to women; men in the departments also help out. In fact, Hainstock believes that everyone who is a first responder should be encouraged to participate in the camp. She uses the motto "I only want to be better, I only want to be stronger so if my partner falls in a fire, I can get them out" to illustrate the camaraderie in the field.
The Lanark County Female First Responders Camp is a recruiting opportunity for emergency response departments in Lanark County. The Lanark County OPP and the paramedic service have joined the camp to make it more manageable for future years. The camp has a one-to-one ratio of volunteers to attendees, ensuring that each participant receives personalised attention and guidance.
Registration for the camp is open online and will close on August 31. For more information and to register, visit [insert website link]. The camp encourages young women to experience the different roles and tasks of first responders, providing them with a unique opportunity to explore potential careers and make a positive impact in their community.
- The Lanark County Female First Responders Camp, hosting its third year, involves practical training in fields like firefighting, law enforcement, paramedic, and more, helping young women explore careers in emergency services.
- The camp, organized by volunteer firefighter Madison Hainstock, accommodates 36 participants and includes hands-on training from local emergency experts, teaching skills such as first aid, CPR, auto extraction, and search and rescue.
- In addition to technical skills, the camp fosters connections between young women and experienced professionals to inspire careers in emergency services, promoting female representation in these fields.
- The camp aims to empower participants with confidence and knowledge, equipping them to pursue careers as female first responders, thereby addressing gender representation gaps in emergency response departments.
- Madison Hainstock stresses the importance of involving men in the camp, creating a positive environment for young women to push their boundaries and learn from all first responders, regardless of gender. The camp encourages all first responders to participate, embodying the motto "I only want to be better, I only want to be stronger so if my partner falls in a fire, I can get them out."
