Managing

Taking steps to save lives EMERGENCIES Managing

Saving lives can be wonderful or stressful depending on the situation. However students can learn to prepare themselves by taking a course at Hutchinson Community College called Emergency Medical Technician with Wade Kennedy.

Wade Kennedy, Emergency Medical Technician instructor, students do not need any prerequisites and anyone can join. The course meets for two four-hour segments on campus for a week and offers weekend sessions. “We also have classes in Newton, we are actually pretty splintered this semester. We have classes in Sterling, Newton, Mount Hope and Hutch,” said Kennedy.

The curriculum covers all sorts of emergencies.

“The semester starts out covering medical terminology, anatomy, and we get into the physiology, and we get into patient assessment, airway management pharmacology,” Kennedy said. “We are able to start into our medical emergency, trauma emergency, special patient population like OB (obstetrics), geriatrics and pediatrics. We get into operations, how the system works and how to respond to emergencies if it becomes a hazardous material instance.”

Being an EMT comes with many challenges, and the instructors cover everything they can to prepare students.

“We have a lot of EMT students on campus, whether they are currently in class or they have taken it before, EMT is required for the Fire Science program, so any Fire Science major is going to have to enroll in EMT,” said Kennedy.

Medical emergencies can happen at any time. Even on campus.

“Currently on campus we have no first response, and we do not have a team of students that respond to it,” Kennedy said. “Best thing to do is call 911 and get that process going, and the dispatchers are going to be able to explain how to perform CPR . Luckily, when you open the box for the AED (Automated External Defibrillator) it makes a very loud screeching sound alerting everybody, so hopefully we have people trained in CPR on campus that can help for that as well.”

For students who want to enroll in the EMT class, schedule a time to speak with Kennedy.

“EMT is a very fast-paced class, because the field is very fast-paced as well, but it is a truly rewarding experience,” said Kennedy.

Kade Stover, Hutchinson, became a certified EMT after taking the class through HutchCC.

“No one says it’s ever going to be easy. It’s a tougher class, 10 credit hours definitely not an easy course, but if you put your mind to it, you can get through it I’ve always wanted to be an EMT and my dad was one and been one for 25 years,” Stover said. “My brother just passed his. He wants to be a firefighter EMT too, so it’s always been on my mind, and I’ve always wanted to do it.”

Students must stay on top of their studies if they are serious about wanting to be an EMT and the course will go by quickly. If they have any questions, they shouldn’t be afraid to ask the instructor.

“It will be stressful, but once you get it passed, you are really under a lot of stress,” Stover said. “If I had not picked EMT I had thought about military too. I always wanted to get the action part that’s why firefighting is one of the top things, I just want a lot of action with my job,I just like helping people and it feels nice.”

Overall the medical field is difficult. Students need to be dedicated and willing to take part and learn the material. The payoff is being able to help others in their time of need.

▲ Wade Kennedy, EMT instructor, demonstrates to his students how to insert an advanced airway a the patient. It is important students know how to do this when helping a patient so they can breathe easier through their lungs.

Photo by Pablo Sanchez

◄ Kelly Burns, Hutchinson, checks Shelly Makey’s, Hutchinson, blood glucose to make sure it is at the right level. Students practiced this technique in order to pass this course.

Photo by Pablo Sanchez

◄ Luke Schmidt, Buhler, completes patient assessment on Matt Van Dyke, Plainville, to make sure his vital signs are good. Students needed to use the information when helping a patient to make sure that they are heathy.

Photo by Pablo Sanchez