Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The school looks to help alleviate shortage of certified technicians.
Elena Coronado, center front, Rafa Calbo, left back and Brenda Rivale take part in a drill instructed by Mesalands' new EMT instructor Matthew Williams.
The instructor of a new course beginning this fall at Mesalands Community College aims to reduce the shortage of certified Emergency Medical Technicians.
"The shortage of certified EMTs is a problem felt locally, across the state and nation," said Matthew Williams, Mesalands EMS faculty.
Williams will begin teaching three EMT courses at Mesalands starting on Aug. 25, said Kimberly Hanna, public relations director.
Hanna said it is important to understand the courses offered at Mesalands do not award anyone EMT certification. She said at the completion of the three courses, worth 12 credit hours, students will be eligible to test for state and national licensure as an EMT-Basic under the guidance of a medical director.
Williams said the courses - EMT 123 Basic, EMTL Emergency Medical Technician and EMT 124 Basic Clinical - will provide students with entry to advanced EMT preparation and training.
"Having a EMT course in our area will be a great benefit to Tucumcari and the surrounding communities," said Brenda Rivale, interim director for Tucumcari EMS.
Rivale, who is also the Village of Logan's EMS director, said before Mesalands offered the courses individuals wanting to train to become an EMT had to travel to Clovis three nights a week. She said having the program close will help in addressing the shortage of EMT regionally.
Hanna said students are already registering for the courses and class size is limited to 10 to 12 students.
Students will learn skills including
• Provide out of hospital emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients.
• Learn the basic knowledge and skills necessary to stabilize and safely transport patients.
• Perform interventions with basic equipment typically found on an ambulance.
Financial aid for the courses is available for those who qualify and a scholarship is available for the courses as well. The scholarship applications are due Aug. 18.
For information on the courses, financial aid and the scholarship contact Mesalands at 575-461-4413.