Spots still available for enthusiastic volunteers to fill EMT Class starting in January

Spots are still available for the face-to-face Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Class in Waukon beginning in January. This class is not offered locally each year, so the fact it will be held in Waukon is an advantage and convenience. This 138-hour course will conclude in May. Registration for the class must be completed prior to the orientation night on January 13.

The number of EMTs in this area has dwindled over the years as licensed EMTs have retired. Allamakee and northern Clayton Counties are fortunate to have many emergency response services, but nearly all of them are in need of more EMTs on their service to share the call time, ensuring local emergency services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“I received my EMT certification last year and am very glad I took the class. Being an EMT gives me the confidence to know what to do in critical situations,” states Tyler Plein, EMT and Maintenance Worker at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH).  “It was definitely a challenging class and quite a time commitment with all I have going on, but we have many good teachers here on staff. In fact there were many EMS staff throughout the county who came to help with the class. Now I am taking calls during the week. It is really nice to be able to truly help the community when needed.”

The EMT class prepares the students to provide pre-hospital assessment and care for patients of all ages with a variety of medical conditions and traumatic injuries. Areas of study include an introduction to emergency medical services systems, roles and responsibilities of EMTs, anatomy and physiology, medical emergencies, trauma, special considerations for working in the pre-hospital setting, and providing patient transportation.

Enthusiastic, willing volunteers wanting to truly help people are needed to fill this class. The class will meet two nights per week, Mondays and Thursdays, from 6-10 p.m. and clinicals will be held in person. Students who successfully complete this class and the certification examination will be able to volunteer on their own community’s ambulance service or rescue squad, as well as be prepared for careers in emergency services.

For more information, contact Jacob Dougherty, Paramedic, EMS Manager, or Cheryl Livingston, Paramedic, Class Instructor, at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411. Registration information can be found at: www.nicc.edu/solutions/100915.