Clarke County Hospital Offering New Emergency First Responders Training

Clarke County Hospital will be offering First Responder Training starting in February.  A first responder is a trained volunteer who is likely to be among the first people to arrive and assist at the scene of an emergency.  The primary focus of a First Responder is to initiate immediate lifesaving care to critical patients who access the Emergency Medical System (EMS).  This individual possesses the basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide lifesaving interventions while awaiting additional EMS response and to assist higher level personnel at the scene. First Responders function as part of a comprehensive EMS response, under medical oversight.

Currently Murray and Woodburn have volunteer First Responder programs in their communities and Osceola is currently working on establishing a program. The hospital is offering First Responder Training to prepare local first responders in Clarke County. The goal is to increase the number of first responders in Clarke County to help with emergencies.

Clarke County Hospital’s First Responder course is 64 hours in length and will require testing to become certified once the course is completed. Application spots are limited and full scholarships are available for a select period of time. Course training dates will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting February 6th and end March 29th. The class will run evenings from 6-10 PM at Clarke County Hospital. To download an application form, please visit www.clarkehosp.org and click on the “Quick Links” section labeled Emergency First Responder Application. The application deadline is Friday, February 2nd.

For questions or more information on becoming a volunteer first responder, please contact Erin Dykes, Clarke County Hospital Chief Nursing Officer at edykes@clarkehosp.org or call 641.342.5389.