The Franciscan Health Crown Point Emergency Medical Services Training Academy will sponsor, beginning when classes resume in August, a free course for Hanover Central High School students in Cedar Lake wishing to become emergency medical technicians.
The course has been offered high schoolers for several years at the Area Career Center in Hammond, whose students boast a 95 percent passing rate on the state EMT certification exam. Rob Dowling, training academy director, said he is attempting to interest other high schools to participate as well. The course is the same as the one offered at the academy, Dowling said, adding the state has a shortage of EMTs and needs “to fill a gap.”
“We want to provide the students a well-rounded educational experience. They receive classroom as well as clinical training,” he said, adding, “We need to increase the number of state-certified EMTs individuals in the area.”
Upon course completion, students aged 18 and older are eligible to take the state exam.
Among other duties, EMTs are trained to perform such services as bandaging and splinting, CPR, use of the automated external defibrillator, administer some medications and assist patients with inhalers.
Dowling said the annual starting salary range for EMTs, depending on location, is approximately $30,000 to $40,000; $40,000 to $50,000 for paramedics.
School officials who want to learn more about offering the program may reach Dowling at (219) 757-6461.
