As the number of EMT's declines in small towns,it raises the question of whether or not schools should be involved in training students as EMT's for their local rescue squads. This would require offering a year-long EMT class and having a certified instructor. Students would also have to pass the National Registry Exam to become a certified EMT.
This is one class that would provide tremendous benefits to the communities served by the school. It would also help prepare students for careers in health care.
Last year Bancroft-Rosalie School began offering a Health Science program. The courses offered are Intro to Health Sciences (first semester), Medical Terminology (second semester), and Basic Nurse Aide (second semester). The nurse aide class culminates with a certification test. Next year CNA class will be offered first semester and Medication Aide will be taught second semester. Currently there are 12 students signed up for these classes.
An EMT instructor class is offered by Northeast Community College over three week-ends in March and April. If there is enough student interest, maybe someone from the school could attend and become a certified EMT trainer.
