News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Jackson County is taking applicants for its free emergency medical responder classes that begin on Thursday.
EMS Field Training Officer Derek Woolbright said this 6-8 week course will teach skills to treat bleed control, traumatic injuries, splinting and administering oxygen. Woolbright said that a strong base of EMR workers allows for decreased response times in the county.
“In a rural county, especially when you’re looking at having longer ambulance response times,” Woolbright said. “Sometimes those first responders who can be there 10 to 15, sometimes 20 minutes faster than an EMS unit, that can make a difference in life or death.”
Woolbright said anyone interested in signing up can call EMS Director Keith Bean at (931) 704-9902. Classes will take place at Dodson Branch Fire Dept Station 2 located at 151 Langford Hill Road.
Woolbright laid out what is next for those who finish the course.
“They will have to sit for a national registry test, just like an EMT or a paramedic does,” Woolbright said. “Then depending on what agency they’re involved with, they’ll start responding to the medical emergencies here in Jackson County or inside other counties if that’s where they’re from.
Woolbright said there are no stipulations involved with taking the course. He said a license to be an EMR is just below what is required to be a basic EMT.
