By Chris Johnson

cxjohnson@oglecounty

news.com

A new class of EMTs will soon be serving residents of Ogle and Lee Counties.

Sixteen people from Oregon, Mt. Morris, Stillman Valley, Polo, Ashton, and the Dixon Rural Fire Departments completed a rigorous class to become EMTs.

“Their training was extremely rigorous,” said instructor Dana Carr, EMS educator from Mercy Rockford. “They had 180 plus hours of training where they had to pass written tests and skills tests. They also participated in simulated accidents.”

All that is left is for them to become certified is to pass a national exam in December.

Being certified is not the end of classroom training.

“The Illinois Department of Public Health requires continual really education,” said Carr. “Nationally they need to re-certify every two years and the state re-certifies every four years.”

Everyone in the course has had some prior medical training as first responders. This will be the first time that they are directly in charge of a person’s care at the scene.

When responding to medical emergencies these new EMTs will not be alone.

Dr. John Pakiela, is with Mercy Rockford’s MD-1 program.

“This program allows EMTs to request the assistance of the MD-1 vehicle for additional support at the scene,” said Pakiela. “We can respond to the scene or talk to the EMTs to help with the care of a patient.”

Pakiela said the program allows extra resources for EMTs.

“Medical care is always changing and this can help critical patients and improve the standard of care,” he said.

The MD-1 program is staffed by doctors and can authorize additional care for patients before they arrive at the hospital.

Throughout the training the 16 graduates have been supported throughout by their departments and families.

“The on duty paramedics, EMTs, and departments have been helpful,” said Carr. “This has been one of the most supportive departments I have been at.”

The graduation ceremony Nov. 18 was the time for their families to hear about the results of their training.

“I want to congratulate you on your hard work,” said Pakiela. “This taught you about life, hard work, and rewards. This is a big deal.

He encouraged the graduates to take the national test and prepare to make a difference in their communities.

“When you get out on the field, you will be working hard to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Pakiela. “On this stage you will be saving people. They may not thank you today, but they will thank you for saving their lives.”

Oregon Fire Chief Al Greene said these graduates took on the challenge to learn the difficult skills required to become an EMT.

“You guys did it,” said Greene. “They were individuals when they walked in the firehouse and I watched them progress into a team.”

All the area departments are part of MABAS 18, which is a mutual aid system which allows departments to respond to neighboring districts during emergencies.

“We all work together,” said Greene. “It is nice to see a familiar face. They are the faces we will see on the streets when the big incidents happen.”

Ambulance calls is quickly becoming the most used service in fire departments.

“This is the future of the fire service,” said Greene. “We respond on more ambulance and emergency response calls on a daily basis than these fire trucks will ever roll out the door.”

Oregon Fire District voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum in April allowing the fire department to add an ambulance service.

District trustees asked for the referendum because the Oregon Ambulance Service, a private, not-for profit corporation that had served the area since the early 1970s, closed its doors in June of 2014 for financial reasons.

The district currently owns one ambulance and hires EMTs from ATS Ambulance Service, Loves Park, to man it.