Prior to the start of the fall semester, the staff at Merced College Los Banos Campus received critical safety training related to fire prevention and active shooters.
The City of Los Banos Fire Department explained to the campus staff the importance of identifying common fire hazards and developing effective fire-prevention practices. The local fire department also provided fire extinguisher training in person at the local college campus.
The Merced Police Department, which partners with Merced College in providing safety and security, provided an in-person active shooter training at the Los Banos Campus.
Merced College is committed to ensuring a safe and healthy work environment for its employees, said Los Banos Campus dean Jessica Moran, and providing safety training is a major component of this goal.
Moran expressed special thanks to those who made the training possible, including City of Los Banos Fire Department members Zach Sawyer, Julian Mendoza and Rachelle Ciuffo, as well as Merced County Fire Department members Mario Rivera and Brandon Wedge.
The campus dean also thanked the Merced Police Department for promoting and maintaining a safe and secure learning, teaching and public service environment. The department accomplishes this through violence prevention, emergency management and community outreach, with well-equipped, well-trained department members.
Merced College Los Banos Campus also offers CPR certification, through a noncredit course, with a fee of only $6.
Community colleges and public safety departments, Moran said, recognize and demonstrate that they need each other by partnering creatively to offer safety trainings.
