Training the Next Generation of EMTs!

CONGRATULATIONS to the first ever graduating class of the Conifer Fire Department EMT Academy!
Did you know that 60-70% of the calls we respond to are medical emergencies? That’s why we are training emergency responders through our EMT Academy!

Last night, 9 students completed this almost 4-month long course, which will now allow them to sit for the EMT National Registry Exam.

We know there have been some questions about Fire Academy and we want to clarify: We are absolutely continuing with Fire Academy, but it will alternate with EMT training, because medical training is just as critical as fire training. This year, we focused on building strong EMTs to ensure our crews are fully prepared for the emergencies we face most often. Our goal will ultimately be to conduct Fire and EMT academy on alternating years.

This EMT class was a joint effort between Conifer Fire and Elk Creek Fire, bringing together both volunteer and career students from Elk Creek, Conifer Wildland Division, Conifer Fire, Indian Hills, and Platte Canyon. These students learned Basic Life Support (BLS) to provide lifesaving care in the field. Their training included:

• Classroom instruction and hands-on medical scenarios
• Emergency Room rotations at local hospitals
• Ride-alongs with Elk Creek Fire ambulances
• National Registry EMT testing

But their journey doesn’t end now! Before they can attend to patients on their own, they must meet the high medical standards of Conifer Fire and Elk Creek Fire. This means extensive field training alongside seasoned EMTs and paramedics before they are officially “cleared” for service.

Our commitment to training and preparing volunteer and career first responders does not stop. If you see one of our new EMTs out in the field one day, you’ll know they’ve put in the hard work to be there! Congratulations again!