By TAMMY WELLS | York County Government Media
They’ve learned how to respond to 911 calls for medical assistance, how to take a pulse, blood pressure, how to assess a patient’s condition, provide first aid or life support care to sick or injured patients, and a lot more.
Seventeen newly minted Emergency Medical Technicians graduated from a 16-week program offered by York County Community College and held at York County Regional Training Center in Alfred.
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The EMT course began in early January, with four hours of classroom work and eight hours of hands-on training in the lab each week and are now eligible to take the National Registry of EMTs certification exam.
The graduates come from all walks of life and experiences.
“I decided to take the next step,” said Caitie Allman of Cornish, who has worked for the past four years as a driver at Sacopee Rescue, a non-profit that responds to more than 1,000 emergency calls annually in Cornish, Hiram, Porter, and Parsonsfield in northern York County. “I love it.”
EMT is a new career path for Kathy Bipart of Kittery, who has worked in graphics for more than 25 years. Then, she said, she started hiking and became a steward of a local trail and would assist search and rescue teams if incidents unfolded there.
“It’s awesome,” she said of the program. Currently a volunteer at York Village Fire Station, Bipart plans to shadow a paramedic and continue her education. “This was the first time I really enjoyed studying.”
Jemario Smith of North Berwick is enrolled in the health sciences program at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, and decided to take the EMT course as well, which will earn him credit towards his goal.
“I want to be a physician assistant,” he said.
“I’m proud to be here,” said student Laura Calhoun, director of the Wood Island Life Saving Station Museum on an island off Kittery, open Memorial Day through early October. She took the course to be able to render aid should a medical incident take place.
Calhoun also expressed thanks to the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce for funding the program. “I couldn’t have done this without (it),” she said.
The graduates are entering a field where there are jobs available across the country. Overall employment of EMTs and paramedics is projected to grow 5 percent through 2034, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Standards.
About 19,000 openings for EMTs and paramedics are projected each year, on average, over the decade, the BLS noted. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or retire.
On graduation night, the lecture hall was full to overflowing with family members. After, there was time for cake and ice cream, and photos.
“You put in a lot of hard work to get here,” YCCC dean of students Chris Burbank told students, pointing out they are the first to study and graduate in the new training facility. “We know the blood, sweat and tears you went through.” He said the college is incredible proud of the work students put in.
“You have a set of skills most people don’t have,” YCRTC Director Roger Hooper told the graduates. “At the beginning of your program, I mentioned making your community better – go do that.”
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