If given the green light, a program would allow some local students to get a taste of what it's like to be a paramedic.

Fire departments in Calumet City and Lansing have been in discussions with Thornton Fractional Township High School District 215 officials about creating a first-responder program for high school seniors, Calumet City Fire Chief Bill Galgan said. Those involved still are working on the legalities and details of the program, which could start in the spring of 2009 at the Center for Academics and Technology.

It would be open to Thornton Fractional North and Thornton Fractional South students.

"(The program) would need a certain level of maturity," Galgan said, adding that the high schools likely would have to choose students.

Emergency medical technician instructors and paramedics would help provide career guidance, and a first-responder program could aid fire department recruitment efforts.

The Calumet City Fire Department and many other departments require new firefighters to be paramedics at the time of hire, Galgan said.

TF North High School Principal Dwayne Evans said he is excited about the idea.

"Anytime we can partner with the community it is a good thing," he said. "The kids we serve are community kids, the more community members in the building, the more they see the police, fire department, parents, pastors, anyone on that line, it's great.

"It lets kids know we are not doing this work by ourselves. Sometimes they think school is independent of the community. And the school is part of the community. We work with police and the fire department and everyone."