Barrington Fire Department honored for its work with District 220

A statewide honor for pediatric care excellence has been bestowed upon the Barrington Fire Department for its work with schools.

Barrington Area Unit District 220 officials nominated the fire department for the annual Ron W. Lee Excellence in Pediatric Care Award in the community service category. The award comes from the Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois Emergency Medical Services for Children.

District 220 board members publicly recognized the fire department's statewide award during a meeting last week. Superintendent Brian Harris spoke about the link between the fire department and school system.

"I just want the board to be aware that I think we're doing great work and everything possible on the safety and security of students and staff in our schools," Harris said.

Most recently, the fire department collaborated with police and District 220 on an active shooter drill for teachers and other employees at Barrington High School, when students were off for spring break in late March. The state public health department cited the drill in announcing the fire department's award.

Some of the scenarios included teachers running from the school building to safety, a victim with a simulated wound receiving treatment from a paramedic and officers clad in bullet-resistant vests with shields and weapons drawn entering the school building.

In addition, the fire department taught teachers and the other workers how to provide emergency first aid to control bleeding so they know what to do if they encounter an injured student or colleague.

Barrington Fire Chief Jim Arie thanked the school system for nominating his department for the award. He touched on the active shooter drill.

"We're on the leading edge of where people are at when it comes to that training," Arie said.

Barrington fire officials also were lauded for working with the village's Rotary Club to raise money to pay for emergency first-aid kits for classrooms throughout District 220. The fire department received kudos for expanding District 220 employee training in emergency responses and its role in improving student instruction in areas such as weather and safety drills.

Ron W. Lee, whose name is on the award received by the Barrington Fire Department, was a medical director for the Division of Emergency Medical Services and Highway Safety at the state department of public health and director of emergency medicine at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. He died in 1998.