Bexar County high schools training next generation of EMTs

SAN ANTONIO – There’s at current a shortage of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) affecting rural areas in Bexar County, nonetheless native high schools are working to combat that with their training packages.

These pictures seem like your “common” classroom, apart from the high-tech mannequin throughout the coronary heart of the room.

“We began final 12 months throughout COVID,” talked about Deborah Ramirez, the magnet coordinator for Edison High College.

Ramirez spent a very long time engaged on an ambulance sooner than bringing the EMT program to the high faculty last 12 months.

“We had 13 children undergo final 12 months. Three handed, and one, two went off to school. One of them is definitely working for Acadian Ambulance,” she talked about.

Final 12 months, the class was a hybrid mix of in-person and digital learning. This 12 months, all 12 faculty college students are learning in-person full-time.

Advert

Although this technique is new to Edison, it’s one factor that’s already seen success at totally different schools.

“I’ve 26 college students, which is about double the norm of the previous,” talked about Darcie Expensive, the EMT program trainer at Brennan High College.

This system with Northside ISD has been spherical for five years.

They’ve seen about 100 faculty college students full this technique, and about 50% have entered the sphere.

Each teachers hope these packages will revenue every the students and the emergency medical suppliers space.

“I’m hoping, clearly, after we get these college students licensed that they’re going to exit into the workforce and begin filling in some of these vacancies,” Expensive talked about.

“We might help feed these shortages by providing the children this system right here, after which they go proper out and get the job,” Ramirez added.

To be a component of the Edison EMT program, faculty college students needs to be seniors and transfer the situations.

“In addition they have to finish a minimal of 150 hours within the classroom, 48 hours on the ambulance and 24 hours in an emergency room,” Ramirez talked about.

Advert

As soon as they transfer the class, faculty college students are off to take the state certification. From there, within the occasion that they transfer, they’ll stroll all through the stage straight proper right into a profession.

April Hernandez modified schools and drivers nearly a half-hour on each day foundation to be a component of the Edison program.

“It’s the perfect resolution I made to this point simply because I do the dedication for myself, and it simply it’s a future for me,” Hernandez talked about.

Rodrigo Aguilar, half of the Brennan High program, says it’s rigorous nonetheless retains you targeted on the tip goal.

“With the ability to reply once they name 911 is one thing that I wish to do,” Aguilar talked about.

Seniors don’t should attend Edison High College already. They will swap schools to be a component of the EMT program.

ALSO ON KSAT.COM

EMS shortage troublesome rural areas nationwide, along with Bexar County