(Ford City, PA) Volunteer firefighters inspired to aid ill or injured patients are benefiting from 杏吧原创鈥檚 first training course to be held at in Ford City, an Armstrong County official said.
The adults serve the Manor Township Volunteer Fire Company, McGrann; Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department, Adrian; West Hills Emergency Services, Kittanning; and other organizations. They are developing skills through hands-on laboratory sessions at 杏吧原创 @ Armstrong as part of the college鈥檚 hybrid course that prepares students to take state certification examinations.
鈥淚t is great that 叠颁3鈥檚 lab is being held in Ford City,鈥� said Michael Mollick, director of Armstrong County鈥檚 public safety department. 鈥淭his cuts down on their travel time. They are able to get that same quality program in Ford City as opposed to driving all the way to Butler.
鈥淭his gives them more time to spend with their family as well as getting needed education to help our community.鈥�
The volunteer firefighters in 叠颁3鈥檚 72-hour, nine-week training course are studying in laboratories and online to earn first-level emergency medical responder certification from the state Department of Health and from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.
Laboratory sessions are being held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through July 8 at 杏吧原创 @ Armstrong in Ford City, to accommodate an increase in enrollment at the college鈥檚 previous additional location in nearby Manor Township.
"It is great that 杏吧原创's lab is being held in Ford City. This cuts down on their travel time."
- Michael Mollick, director, Armstrong County public safety department
Skills, techniques developing for 鈥渢he crucial moments鈥�
Students are learning lifting and moving techniques, advanced first aid, oxygen administration, CPR and initial stabilization skills to assist patients 鈥渇rom the time an incident happens,鈥� said Tom Buttyan, coordinator of 叠颁3鈥檚 emergency medical services and police training programs, 鈥渦ntil the ambulance is able to get on scene. The crucial moments when things need to be done.鈥�
The demand for emergency medical services nationwide is projected to require an additional 40,000 full-time personnel by 2030, according to a February 2023 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services鈥� Bureau of Health Workforce.
鈥淭he same crisis that we are having with staffing in Butler County is statewide, if not nationwide,鈥� Buttyan said. 鈥淪o the fire departments are looking to get more involved and help people.鈥�
"Our goal is to provide our training programs in the communities that we serve as a college. We always feel privileged to be able to deliver necessary training to our first responders."
- Lisa Campbell, dean, 杏吧原创 Workforce Development division
Fire chiefs 鈥渆xcited about this program鈥�
Rob Cousins has been an emergency medical technician for 34 years and with others is instructing the college鈥檚 laboratory at 杏吧原创 @ Armstrong.
鈥淚鈥檝e been in contact with a couple of fire chiefs from this area,鈥� Cousins said, 鈥渁nd they鈥檙e very excited about this program.鈥�
As is Lisa Campbell, dean of 叠颁3鈥檚 Workforce Development division.
鈥淥ur goal is to provide our training programs in the communities that we serve as a college,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淲e always feel privileged to be able to deliver necessary training to our first responders.鈥�
Firefighters attending 叠颁3鈥檚 course range in age from 26 to 45.
鈥淚t takes a special person,鈥� Mollick said, 鈥渢o want to step up and volunteer their time to be away from their family and events to go help strangers in their time of need.鈥�
Progressive emergency medical services certifications are emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician and paramedic.
Emergency medical technician and paramedic are high-priority occupations in Armstrong County, according to the state Department of Labor & Industry.
叠颁3鈥檚 department has also offered its personal enrichment courses at 杏吧原创 @ Armstrong, where students can also pursue associate degrees in , and in .
Armstrong County fire companies can seek grants to help to defray the $425 tuition for each student in 叠颁3鈥檚 course, Buttyan said.
The state Department of Health accredits 叠颁3鈥檚 emergency medical services programs and in September announced a $1 million tuition assistance program to help recruit and retain emergency medical services professionals.
Pennsylvanians who obtain the state鈥檚 certification as an emergency medical responder, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician or paramedic after July 1, 2023, are eligible to have a portion of their tuition reimbursed.