Youth Basic Emergency Care (BEC) program started
Sublette County EMS pilot program for youth ages 15-18
by Pinedale Online!
March 11, 2007
Sublette County Emergency Management Services (EMS) is implementing a new Basic Emergency Care program to give high school students between the ages of 15 and 18 years old an opportunity to learn more about basic emergency care to see if it is a career choice they wish to pursue. The new program has not been attempted anywhere else in the state of Wyoming. Its purpose is to foster an interest in healthcare fields that will potentially benefit the YBEC participants. It is hoped some of these students will ultimately continue in the program to become EMS volunteers in Sublette County.
Will Gay, Supervisor for the Pinedale EMS, explained the program at the February 28 meeting of the Sublette County Rural Health Care Board in Marbleton. The program is managed by the Sublette County EMS, with oversight by the EMS Medical Director. Program coordinator is Kris Bacheller in Pinedale.
Students participating must first successfully complete the required State of Wyoming Basic Emergency Care class and obtain certification. They would attain first responder status which would allow them to administer basic first aid. They then will go through monthly training hours which are supervised by SCEMS-Pinedale medics. Each student will be assigned a mentor to help educate and oversee the student’s learning and growth potential within the emergency care field. Students will be allowed to go on selected ambulance ride-alongs with EMS personnel under strict guidelines and supervision. There will be no overnight shifts for BEC students and they will not go on runs that are entirely staffed by medics of the opposite gender. There are currently three students participating in the Youth BEC program, all children of county EMTs.
The program is 100% volunteer with no monetary compensation to the students for their time or efforts. The volunteer time will be valuable on applications on future jobs and count towards community service work. The volunteer status also frees the EMS from having to adhere to child labor laws. Participants will be able to benefit from educational opportunities of other organizations.
Students will be on a 6-month probationary period, just as any new member or new-hire.
For more information, e-mail Kris Bacheller at kbacheller@hotmail.com, or contact the Sublette County EMS-Pinedale, PO Box 544, Pinedale, WY 82941, or call 307-367-2315.
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