Thursday, December 31, 2009

WEMTs-in-Training Arrive at NOC

SOLO Southeast's first WEMT course got into full swing this week, with the arrival of 15 students on Monday. Students have come from across the country—as far away as Alaska—and even across the world, with one student traveling from another continent, all to receiving WEMT-certification at NOC's SOLO Southeast.

"I wanted to get EMT certified in another county other than my own," said Trevor, who already works for an EMS squad in his native South Africa. Below, Trevor checks on a patient in an in-class simulated scenario.

These students have signed up for an EMT-Basic intensive course, meaning a large amount of material will be covered in four short weeks. Class runs every day of the week from 8am to 5pm, with some night sessions included. Students are also required to complete four three-hour sessions volunteering and shadowing area EMS outfits and hospital emergency rooms. In addition to receiving EMT-B certification upon successful completion of the course, students also participate in a final week of Wilderness training, vital to providing the highest level of care in backcountry situations.

In the photos below, students are practicing their skills in a simulated scenario, assessing a non-traumatic patient by taking vital signs and obtaining some medical history from the patient. We'll check in with these students throughout their course and update on their progress.