Chinook Ambulance Announces Plans for an Emergency Medical Responders Class
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It's no secret that emergency response units across the board are facing challenging times when it comes to recruitment, retention and maintaining the ability to properly serve the communities they live in. Ambulance Crews, Volunteer Fire Departments are among the hardest hit, especially in small communities. Efforts are always ongoing searching for new methods to attract new recruits. Training and education are vital components of new crew members.
In an effort to increase numbers the Chinook Ambulance is going to put on an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) class sometime after the first of the year. It can be used in multiple ways. It can be used to just have for your personal knowledge. It can be used for joining the Ambulance crew, "It's an entry level step to join the ambulance and to see if you like it or not. There are different levels we function at on the Ambulance," said Dan Friede. "The skill sets that you get to do are different, this is just an entry level class that would allow a candidate to function at the very basic entry level."
Dan emphasized that what you do with the class is completely the individual's choice, "You're not committed to joining the Ambulance if you take this class. You can certainly just use it for your own knowledge." The class is roughly 60 hours of classroom and hands on training. Time and location of the classes are all still variables that will be worked out at a later date, "We are still very early in the planning stages, and we are gaging interest in the class at this time. Right now, I would say classes will probably take place at the Fire Hall, but nothing is set in stone at this time."
After interest has been determined then organizers can move to the next step, "We will meet with all the candidates that show interest and go from there. We really want to get the word out regarding the class and determine exactly what kind of interest the community has in such a class." Ambulance crews everywhere are severely understaffed and crews all along the Hi-line face a very difficult recruitment process with populations shrinking.
"This is a good way for candidates to decide if this is for them. It's just 60 hours which really isn't a lot," stated Friede. "The only cost associated with the class will be for the books and the supplies." The class will take place and there is no minimum class size to get things started. "We have interest now from some of the fire department crew and we have some interest from other areas in Blaine County. We're going to do it regardless."
The class certification is good for anywhere in the state of Montana and once everyone has had their say a schedule will be determined. "We will determine a schedule after we meet with the candidates. We may do a couple four-hour sessions a couple nights a week, or a 4 hour night and a Saturday. We're just not sure at this point, we are trying to be flexible so it fits in with people's lives and hopefully that will help with recruitment."
Flexibility is relative only to the planning the schedule and making sure it works for everyone, once the schedule is set, that's it, "When the schedule is finalized you will have to attend all of the scheduled sessions, you won't be able to miss any of the classes." A candidate must be 18 at the time of licensing, the candidate has two years after completing the class to apply for their license. A high school diploma or GED, and a driver's license is also required, a candidate cannot have any felonies on their record and the candidate must be a citizen of the United States. One does not have to be a resident of Montana, but the license is only good within the state of Montana.
Instructors will include local Ambulance crew, Doctors and Nurses from the area exclusively. Interested individuals can contact Lynn Friede at 406-357-2615 or Scott Gallus at 406-262-2765 for more information.
