Andover EMT classes give students street knowledge
Michelle Grantham
Issue date: 11/24/09 Section: A&E
On any given day at Butler, bystanders may observe students rushing to the assistant of their falsely ailed classmates. Butler EMT students have the advantage of a very blended learning environment.
Not only do they spend time in the typical classroom setting, they also use hands-on learning tools such as simulated calls where their classmates have some sort of injury or illness that must be addressed.
According to EMT instructor Jeb Burress, the students also acquire the experience of spending at least 24 hours riding with an EMS crew and 16 hours in the Emergency Room.
"They get some actual, working street knowledge," Burress said.
Students also have a new advantage this semester. Now EMT students can access computerized tests from home that challenge them on each new application they learn. These tests are very similar to the national exam.
This course is one full, 12 credit hour semester. It is broken up into sections. Students must maintain a C grade through every section. In the EMT program a C starts at 77 percent.
"If you don't pass one section, you're out," Burress said.
That does not seem to be much of an issue for Butler students though. Butler has a first-time pass rate for the National EMT test that is comparatively higher than the national first-time pass rate.
"Once they pass the program that actually allows them the challenge of the state and national certification tests," Burress said.
Burress expects the new computerized testing to increase the success rate of Butler students as it has done in other schools. However, students and teachers alike are still learning this new system.
"Myself and all my instructors are learning a great deal," Burress said. "My students are as well."
EMT students could be found simulating a sequence of calls on Saturday, Nov. 21. They also spent time learning about helicopters and their role in rescue cases earlier last week.
Butler even provides their EMT students with an extrication learning day where students learn what to do under pressing measures such as those of a car accident and learn to use the Jaws of Life.
The fact that Butler's EMT students are at least 20 percent more likely than students throughout the nation to pass their certification test the first time is enough to prove that all the hands on learning and instructor dedication pays off in the end.
Although EMT courses are not currently being offered at the El Dorado campus, Burress said students can expect to see them back in El Dorado beginning next fall.
Not only do they spend time in the typical classroom setting, they also use hands-on learning tools such as simulated calls where their classmates have some sort of injury or illness that must be addressed.
According to EMT instructor Jeb Burress, the students also acquire the experience of spending at least 24 hours riding with an EMS crew and 16 hours in the Emergency Room.
"They get some actual, working street knowledge," Burress said.
Students also have a new advantage this semester. Now EMT students can access computerized tests from home that challenge them on each new application they learn. These tests are very similar to the national exam.
This course is one full, 12 credit hour semester. It is broken up into sections. Students must maintain a C grade through every section. In the EMT program a C starts at 77 percent.
"If you don't pass one section, you're out," Burress said.
That does not seem to be much of an issue for Butler students though. Butler has a first-time pass rate for the National EMT test that is comparatively higher than the national first-time pass rate.
"Once they pass the program that actually allows them the challenge of the state and national certification tests," Burress said.
Burress expects the new computerized testing to increase the success rate of Butler students as it has done in other schools. However, students and teachers alike are still learning this new system.
"Myself and all my instructors are learning a great deal," Burress said. "My students are as well."
EMT students could be found simulating a sequence of calls on Saturday, Nov. 21. They also spent time learning about helicopters and their role in rescue cases earlier last week.
Butler even provides their EMT students with an extrication learning day where students learn what to do under pressing measures such as those of a car accident and learn to use the Jaws of Life.
The fact that Butler's EMT students are at least 20 percent more likely than students throughout the nation to pass their certification test the first time is enough to prove that all the hands on learning and instructor dedication pays off in the end.
Although EMT courses are not currently being offered at the El Dorado campus, Burress said students can expect to see them back in El Dorado beginning next fall.
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