Tulsa Police Officers Take Part in TCC EMT Program

Tulsa Community College students completing their Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training are currently taking part in clinical rotations with agencies that respond to medical and trauma emergencies. Of the nearly 50 students participating in the spring 2015 EMT program, nine are full-time Tulsa Police Officers. Those officers are riding with Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) crews and the Tulsa Fire Department.

“This EMT program is a unique partnership between TCC and the Tulsa Police Department. The officers participate in the regular EMT classes. We are fortunate that they have the opportunity to gain clinical experience with the Tulsa Fire Department and EMSA,” said TCC EMS Program Director and Assistant Professor, Fire & Emergency Medical Services Leaugeay Barnes M.S., NRP. “The partnership promotes public safety and develops relationships among first responders in the community.”

The EMT program at TCC is an eight credit hour, one semester course that includes classroom, skills, and clinical components. The program is designed to prepare students to manage medical and trauma emergencies in the pre-hospital environment. EMT students are doing clinical rotations with first responders across the region including the Tulsa Police officers riding in the back of an ambulance or on a fire apparatus. The TPD officers were selected to participate after completing a rigorous selection process.

“As police officers, we often encounter situations where citizens are facing life-threatening trauma or medical conditions,” said Tulsa Police Department Assistant Training Director Captain Ryan Perkins. “The Tulsa Police Department is excited to partner with TCC, the Tulsa Fire Department and EMSA to further prepare our officers for situations where they can take life-saving actions for citizens and their co-workers.”

The clinical rotations are designed to provide the EMT student with the opportunity to utilize the knowledge, skills, and behaviors they have learned in the field with the oversight of a preceptor or clinical instructor.

“EMSA is a busy system that provides an opportunity for someone to apply a wide variety of emergency medical skills. In a short amount of time, you can demonstrate a vast amount of knowledge that you have learned in the classroom,” said EMSA Clinical Instructor Scott Williams, B.S., B.A., NRP. “There is a lot of potential for community impact when more public servants are able to offer immediate care in the field. It can save lives. And, to have them training directly with us, helps all of us to understand each other’s capabilities and communicate more efficiently.”

“Providing emergency medical care to the Tulsa community is a team effort that includes Tulsa Fire, EMSA, and Tulsa Police Officers. The key to achieving a successful outcome when these events occur is through a coordinated approach to training that involves all responders,” said Tulsa Fire Department Director of EMS Michael Baker. “This training partnership with TCC is an opportunity to expand on the existing programs with Tulsa Fire and to include our other response partners at Tulsa Police and EMSA. Tulsa firefighters deliver pre-hospital healthcare and the department is excited to host these students and ensure their success in emergency medicine.”

The TCC EMT program prepares students to successfully complete the national certifying written and psychomotor exams provided by the National Registry of EMT’s, as well as to perform the responsibilities of an EMT in the field. The demand for EMT’s and Paramedics is high and is predicted to grow.