AEDC Firefighters ready to receive EMT certification

Shown here, with their instructor, are 12 AEDC Firemen who passed the 12 week course for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) on Feb. 24. Pictured left to right are Firefighters Brandon Gunn and Whit Ross; Driver/Operator Lee Brassfield; Firefighters Sam Teat and Eli Johnson; Assistant Chief Jim Wenger; Paramedic/Firefighter and course instructor Shane Clark; Assistant Chief Gary Horn; Firefighters Brian Barnes, Chevis Vaughn and Marvin Greeson; Assistant Chiefs Jim Evans and Tom Lombard. (Photo by Rick Goodfriend)

AEDC Firefighters ready to receive EMT certification

Published March 10, 2015
By Raquel March
AEDC/PA

ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. -- After completing a 12-week Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training course and practical evaluations on Feb. 24, 12 Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) firefighters are set to gain national certification through successful completion of the National EMT Registry examination.

The Complex EMTs are trained to respond quickly to emergency incidents that involve medical issues, traumatic injuries and accident scenes. They may also respond to some incidents in surrounding counties as part of a mutual aid agreement.

Daryl VanCise, the deputy fire chief with the AEDC Fire and Emergency Services, explained that EMTs are essential to the success of on-duty paramedics at the scene of a vehicle or equipment accident.

"The new EMTs will enhance emergency response capability by placing more EMTs at the emergency scene," VanCise said. "Having additional EMS [Emergency Medical Services] capable personnel on scene to assist them [on-duty paramedics] will enable paramedics to treat more victims in a shorter amount of time."

With the addition of 12 EMTs, AEDC Fire and Emergency Services will have 15 basic level EMTs, 11 advanced level EMTs and 6 paramedics on staff.

AEDC Firefighter and Paramedic Shane Clark, who is a state certified paramedic instructor coordinator, was the instructor for the course. VanCise applauded the instruction from Clark as well as the firefighters who volunteered for the certification course.

"We have a truly outstanding group of firefighters," he said. "Our EMT personnel, both basic and advanced levels, volunteered to gain these certifications; it's a testament to their dedication to serve the AEDC community and I'm extremely proud of them."