Choosing The Right EMT Program...Student Beware!

EMT School...it's a big decision. Some students tell me that they had the calling to be an EMT from a very young age. Others tell me it came much later in life. One thing that is true for both types; once its in your blood, there is no escaping it. You are consumed with finding a program, you search the Internet for any information you can get your hands on. You talk with friends and family, and visit your local fire department. You are on a mission to find the program that will best suit you.

I remember early on working as an EMT while going through Paramedic school, a respected colleague of mine told me that the best Paramedics were the ones that have the best EMT skills. That always stuck with me and over the years I have really grown to appreciate the truth in that statement. The foundation that is laid in EMT school becomes the base for which everything else is built. The type of Paramedic you become is largely based on the kind of EMT you became. I stress to my EMT students that the time they spend in our Academy will stay with them long after they have graduated.

In Missouri, all EMT programs must follow the same minimum guidelines and requirements set forth by the Missouri Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. It is however, a minimum. What you do with that basic program is what makes each program unique and their own.

RespondRight EMS Academy was in a great position when our program was developed. The first component, and the most important one, is the staff. Who is responsible for leading the class, do they also act as a mentor and set a good example? Several things that RespondRight EMS Academy felt were important were the instructors background in EMS. Have they ever worked in the field? What about other positions they have held in their present Fire or Ambulance Department? What about how they will interact with the students? What is their past pass/fail ratio for State testing? These are just a few questions RespondRight EMS Academy thinks are important for students to ask.

The second part of our program that makes us unique is the fact that we actually train in a real ambulance. This seems rather odd that all programs don't do this because, isn't that the place an EMTs spends a fair amount of time? To me its like teaching a computer class and not letting the student actually practice on a real computer. It makes no sense to think that an ambulance is not an important part of the program. Our students first learn a skill in the classroom and once they have become proficient in it, we proceed outdoors to practice doing that same skills in a moving ambulance.

Another very important aspect of our program is equipment the students have available to them. We spare no expense in obtaining the very best and most up-to-date equipment money can buy. We do not only provide equipment to the students that they will see at state testing, but also, other equipment they they will actually use in the field. I remember working as an EMT, and being asked by my Paramedic partner to go out to the ambulance and bring in a stair chair. I had no idea what he was talking about. I had never seen one before and certainly didn't know how tho use it. I tell the students, if there is a possibility for them to see a piece of equipment out in the field, they'll see it here first. We expose them to all elements of their job, not just the ones they are tested on.

When it is all said and done, our program stands out because we know what it is to be an EMT or a Paramedic. We do not teach english, math or other non EMS classes. We are an Academy dedicated to any and all aspects of Emergency Medical Services. We know because of our experience as educators and Paramedics what will make our students successful, not just in preparing them to successfully obtain their license, but also their professional career. We graduate out well rounded, educated EMTs who are ready to go to work. We are today's Professional Firefighters and Paramedics training the EMTs of tomorrow. If you want to be the best, you have to learn from the best, and we are just that. We love what we do and are very passionate about helping others achieve their goals. We will assist you in getting you where you want to go, we will turn your dream into a reality!