Fairfield University's Department of Public Safety (DPS) in collaboration with the town of Trumbull Emergency Medical Services will offer the skill-enhancing Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic Course in the Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 semesters. The course is held on the Fairfield University campus in the DPS Training Room in Loyola Hall on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., with an occasional Saturday class, and runs from Sept. 8 through Dec. 17, 2014, and again in the spring from Jan. 19 to May 13, 2015. This course meets education requirements established by the State of Connecticut and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and is requisite for EMT certification candidates who are compelled to pass the National Registry examination.

Frank Ficko, associate director of Public Safety on campus, stressed that Connecticut State Certified Instructors lead students through a semester-long course focusing on patient assessment and emergency care of the pre-hospital patient. "Those who take this course acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to bridge the gap from the point of injury to the moment a patient is admitted to a hospital. The course will prepare students for the two-part EMT National Registry exam. Students who have completed the course tell us that these skills are a valuable addition to a resume," he said.

With a total of approximately 160 hours of classes, this comprehensive EMT course meets the state requirement of instruction and practice necessary for registration for the two-part examination. Successful completion of the course and, by extension, the exam, ensures EMT certification through the National Registry in 40 participating states.

Areas of instruction covered through lectures and hands-on practice include: CPR, general pharmacology, respiratory emergencies, cardiovascular emergencies and OB/GYN emergencies, musculoskeletal, head and spine trauma, soft tissue injuries, hazardous materials, ambulance operations, emergency medical techniques for children and scene safety. Ficko continued, "The university resources are excellent for this training, and we look forward to our new semester. Students who successfully complete this course will leave with all the tools needed for virtually any medical emergency situation."

The cost of the course is $785, not including the cost of textbooks. Upon completion of the class, there is an additional state testing fee of approximately $100.

For more information or to register for the course, please contact Frank Ficko of the Fairfield University Department of Public Safety at (203) 254-5524 or visit www.fairfield.edu/emt .

Pictured: Fairfield University Department of Public Safety Sergeant Robert Didato, a certified Emergency Medical Technician.

Posted On: 08-20-2014 03:08 PM

Volume: 47 Number: 32