Exercise gives PRCC EMT students preview of what''s ahead

Emergency medical technician students at Pearl River Community College got an up-close look Saturday at extrication and treatment of traffic accident victims.The students watched and photographed the response by Hattiesburg Fire Department, AAA Ambulance Service, Baptist Life Flight and Southeast Mississippi Air Ambulance District to a staged two-vehicle accident with major injuries.This was really very professional, said student Matt Ezell of Oak Grove.Ezell is taking the three-month EMT-Basic course to advance his career.Im a nurse, and I want to fly on a helicopter, he said. To do that, I have to have the EMT-Basic certification.Instructor Steven Todd currently has 16 students enrolled in the PRCC class and teaches a second class of 15 Hattiesburg firefighters working to earn EMT certification.This is to demonstrate extrication and patient care, both from the fire department and emergency medical services area, he said of the demonstration. After the demonstration was over, the students got to take part in the professionals post-exercise briefing.For the firefighters providing initial medical care and using the Jaws of Life tools to free the victims, the demonstration was more than a show, said Battalion Chief Robert Pickering, HFD training director.The best training you can get is to actually go out and cut cars up, he said.For more information about PRCC emergency medical technician training, contact Lee Bell at 601 554-4647 or by email at mailto:lbell@prcc.edu“>lbell@prcc.edu.