Students from the Emergency and Disaster Management Program at Üsküdar University’s Vocational School of Health Services (VSHS) took part in a technical field trip to the Kadıköy Fire Department. The visit gave students the opportunity to meet professional firefighters and observe the working environment of these real-life heroes. They also received detailed information about fire extinguishing, rescue operations, first aid equipment, and the special protective suits known as “Nomex.”
The field trip, held at the Kadıköy Fire Station, included first- and second-year students of the Emergency and Disaster Management Program.
Assistant Director of VSHS and Program Head Instructor Esad Sadık Demirtaş also took part in the event.
Guided by Instructor Osman Grant, students interacted with firefighting professionals and experienced firsthand the challenges and demands of the profession.
Instructor Osman Grant: “Firefighting can be considered a semi-military profession”
Emphasizing that firefighters work about eighty hours more than those in many other professions, Grant explained the 24-hour shift system and the operational life inside the station. He noted that firefighting could be regarded as a “semi-military” occupation due to its structure and discipline.
Routine and discipline were emphasized
The visit began with an overview of the importance of routine and discipline within the fire station. Students then learned how a fire department is organized and what procedures are followed during emergencies, before touring the living and operational areas.
Students examined firefighting equipment up close
Later, participants learned about various types of fire trucks, their technical specifications, capacities, and specific uses.
They also observed fire extinguishing tools, rescue and first aid equipment, and the Nomex suits used for protection during operations.
The technical visit concluded with a group photo session.