All Female Fire Crew is Making History!
Five female fire crew members from Palm Beach Garden (Florida) Fire Rescue are making history! For the first time, they were called to serve as a team, which was made up of:
- Rescue Lieutenant Krystyna Krakowski
- Fire Medic Kelsey Krzywada
- Fire Medic Julie Dudley
- Lt. Monica Marzullo
- Driver Engineer Sandi Ladewski
While there are 12 female members of Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue, this was the first time that an all-woman team had been called to serve.
Although women have been involved in firefighting for more than 200 years, only since the 1970’s and 1980’s were laws passed in many countries to make it easier for them to qualify for the job. Still today, women still only make up about 4% of firefighters in the USA. And some fire departments still have only one woman on their staff and some have none.
As Deputy Fire Chief James Ippolito told The Palm Beach Post about the all-female crew: “The message that there are no boundaries, and that you can do anything you want to do regardless of your gender, is important. You can put your heart and soul into it, and if you work hard, you can have it. That’s what I want for my (7 year old) daughter, and that’s what I want for the women in my community.”
Check out this inspiring video of the all Female Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue Crew and then learn more about the firefighting profession below:
Additional Resources:
- Check out other inspiring stories and videos from IMK about first responders and firefighters
- Read inspiring quotes from InspireMyKids about serving others, heroes, bravery and courage
- Service is the sacrifice of one’s own desires, time, and energy to benefit others. Here are some great quotes about serving others
- Learn more on Wikipedia about the history of women in firefighting
- See InspireMyKids guide to careers in firefighting
Topics for Discussion:
- What character traits does it take to be a firefighter?
- Do you know a firefighter? Do you know why they decided to do this job?
- What do you think are the best parts of being a firefighter? The worst parts?
Take Action:
- Interested in becoming a firefighter yourself? Join a Junior Firefighter Camp or Academy! It includes teamwork exercises and learning what it takes to become a firefighter. You can find out more here. Or visit your local Fire Station. Here are some questions to ask!
- Find a CPR class at the American Red Cross or other agency offering training. Having a CPR card can increase your chances of going on ride-along exercises with the firefighters.
- Is your family safe at home? Make sure your home has a fire escape plan
Teacher Features:
- Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
- Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.
