Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
Firefighters from two Florida fire departments being investigated over allegations they gained access to test questions for a pediatric advanced life support certification program.
Orange County Fire Rescue and the Orlando Fire Department are both investigating allegations that firefighters somehow gained access to exam questions that are used to certify personnel in Pedi ALS…
What is rather sad to me is how the media is jumping to the conclusion that what the firefighters did was cheating… when quite obviously the reporters covering the stories do not even understand what the exams are, how they actually relate to the job of firefighters (paramedics), who administers the exams (the American Heart Association????), and what the impact would actually be if the firefighters did access the actual exam questions improperly as opposed to accessing a bank of practice questions that students of all types (including law students) use to prepare for examinations.
Apparently the media never wants to let a good headline go to waste by digging a little deeper before pulling the trigger… but seriously… to the point of suggesting that children might be in danger… I am not taking sides in this – and I am certainly not supporting anyone involved in another EMS cheating scandal – all I am pointing out is the absurdity of this headline-pimping rush to judgment.
