An Emergency Medical Technician is a staff member of a basic life support ambulance providing routine and emergency care and transportation of the sick and injured. Many students also use the EMT training program to obtain entry level positions in healthcare, emergency rooms and into the private sector.
Upon successful completion of HACC's 140-hour program, participants should be able to perform a number of complex skills such as spinal immobilization, use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), assisting patients with medications, performing patient assessments, performing CPR, and taking vital signs.
Upon successful completion, students also will be eligible to test in PA Department of Health practical and written examinations. The certification exam is required to become an EMT in any healthcare setting or in the private sector.
The EMT class may be used as a free elective toward a HACC degree program, and students should consult their HACC counselor for more information.
The EMT Basic Emergency Medical Technician course will be offered in Adams County at the Adams County Emergency Services Training Facility, Sept. 29-April 4, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
In Franklin County, course sites will be Mercersburg EMS, Sept. 7-Jan. 7, Saturdays and Sundays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; at Marion VFC, Sept. 8-Feb. 23, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30-10 p.m.; and in Shippensburg at the Firefighters Activity Center, Sept. 10-Feb. 4, Saturdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
The course will be offered in Lancaster County at Gordonville Ambulance, Nov. 3-March 14, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-10 p.m.; and Ephrata Hospital, Nov. 3-March 16, Mondays and Thursdays, 6:30-10 p.m.
In Perry County the course will be offered at Newport EMS, on Saturday dates that include Sept. 10, Oct. 15, Nov. 12, and Dec. 10.
The York County sites will be Pleasant Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Sept. 13-March 9, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30-9:30 p.m.; and York County Fire School, Oct. 3-March 22, Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:30-10 p.m.
Additional EMT programs have been scheduled in all these counties, as well as Lebanon County, with anticipated start dates in 2006.
In-state tuition is $125. Registration and information may be obtained for this and other classes in many Central Pennsylvania counties by accessing HACC's Public Safety Center Emergency Medical Services Training Unit calendar by going to HACC's home page and click on Public Safety Center, or by calling (717) 780-2510.