Volunteer EMTs Preparing to Serve

Emergency medical responses will improve this summer when volunteer emergency medical technicians join the ranks of the Falcon Fire Department.

Five EMT candidates recently graduated from a four-month training program that has prepared them to serve alongside Falcon Fire Department firefighters. “The program was open to qualified emergency medical technicians who want to serve,” said Battalion Chief Cory Galicia. “The additional EMTs will improve response times and help us better use our resources.”

Galacia said that 70 to 80 percent of the calls the Department responds to are related to medical emergencies. “Having additional EMTs on each shift will allow us to keep fire fighting apparatus at the station, while they respond to medical calls in Quick Response Vehicles and the American Medical Response ambulance,” Galacia said.

Among the candidates participating in the training program are an EMT with American Medical Response, an emergency room technician at Penrose Hospital, and a firefighter with the Peyton Fire Department.  Falcon Fire Department instructors include Firefighter/Paramedic James McLaughlin and Firefighter/EMT’s Nick Koory, Matt Gibbs, Aaron Wood, Cory Kirt, Brent Millwright and Danny Miller.

Since completing the training these EMTs will work 12-hour shifts and must serve at least 36 hours each month.