Oregon Coast Community College is re-launching its emergency medical technician course designed to prepare students for jobs with first-responder agencies such as fire departments and ambulance companies.
Fire and ambulance agencies have been pressing the college to resume the offerings since the 2020 pandemic decimated their staffs.
The college said that EMTs deliver essential care on-site and during transport in rural communities, where travel times to hospitals can be significant.
“They are often the backbone of local emergency services, supporting fire departments, volunteer rescue squads, and rural health systems,” the college said in its announcement.
The Basic EMT class will provide students with the knowledge and hands-on skills necessary to respond to medical emergencies, stabilize patients, and provide life-saving care in pre-hospital settings, said Crystal Bowman, the college’s dean of Nursing & Allied Health. Graduates will be eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification exam, opening doors to employment opportunities in ambulance services, fire departments, hospitals, and other healthcare settings, the college said.
The two-term course starts Jan. 5, at OCCC’s North County Center in Lincoln City. Applications close Dec. 31. For more information or to register, visit oregoncoast.edu/emt or contact Bowman at [email protected].
