Darrah Walker
Lantern Staff
Since the late 1970’s, Butler Community College has offered students the ability to train to become a first responder and EMT-A (Emergency Medical Technician- Advanced).
The titles of the courses provided through the college have changed multiple times. In 2011, Butler began offering EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) and AEMT (Advanced Emergency Medical Technician), which is available in the El Dorado, McConnell Air Force Base, Rosehill, Marion and Council Grove campuses. Butler partnered with Cowley College in 2006 offering a paramedic course, which is located at the main EMS Education facility in the 5000 building in Andover.
“Many of the students…go into working EMS Services and Fire Departments,” Professor of EMT Jeb Burress said. “Fifteen percent of our students who take [the course] go into nursing, PA (Physican Assistant) school and medical school.”
The students learn to use numerous types of equipment to assist the person in need. The equipment they are trained to use includes: a stethoscope, pulse oximeter, glucometers, pen light, c-collar, spine-board, splints and bandages, Automated External Defibrillators and more.
“They use much of the equipment on each other and also a number of different kinds of manikins,” Burress said.
The manikins are used to train with equipment that cannot be used on live people. They are also used to train the students in real-life situations. One of the manikins used is called HAL. HAL is an Advanced Multipurpose Patient Simulator, which is a computerized manikin that acts like a real person. Not only does HAL breathe, talk, cough and more, he also allows the students give medications and supply an airway.
EMT students train to use 11 different medications and how to administer them, while the AEMT students train to use 15 to 20 medications. The AEMT students also learn to use EKG cardiac monitoring and interpretation. There is a chance for students to work a clinical shift in an emergency department at certain hospitals such as Wesley, St. Joseph, St. Francis and Susan B. Allen.
“You do ride alongs with both Butler and Sedgwick County EMS, which is nice because every service is a little different and has different protocols,” freshman Liz Pipkin said.
After a semester in the program, students take the state exam to get licensed as an EMT. No other classes are required unless the student is wanting to work as an AEMT or paramedic. If students pass the state exam, they have to the chance to start working in the field or use their knowledge to advance in the field by becoming a AEMT or Paramedic.
