Washington Fire Department offers free EMT-B classes to community

WASHINGTON (25News Now) - The Washington Fire Department is fulfilling a need in central Illinois by offering free EMT- B classes.

In the class students learn the skills to make it as an EMT with no cost to them.

The course would entail learning skills such as performing physical exams, administering oxygen, assisting in childbirth and of course responding to emergency 9-1-1 calls.

The class that normally would cost up to $1,800 is the first of its kind in Central Illinois and fully funded through the Washington Fire Department and the city of Washington’s board of directors.

The Washington assistant fire chief Jeramy Doerr says " This area is really on life support wit EMS workers. We have a shortage of EMT’s and paramedics nationally but especially in this area. So, the goal is just to generate that interest. So, if we can put out 15-20 students a year that’s what we’re going to do.”

There are currently 17 students in the course and the department is paying paramedics overtime to teach courses.

The Peoria area EMS office has also allowed the Washington fire department to teach this class as a satellite program.