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Posted by: DeputyFife

Published: March 31, 2008 06:24 am ShareThisPrintThis
First responder course benefits all Rockporters
By Jonathan L'Ecuyer
Staff writer


ROCKPORT — A first responder course made available free of charge to all Rockport safety service employees last month has already inspired three new first responders to join the town's Ambulance Department.
Rosemary Lesch, head of the Ambulance Department, hopes the trend continues later next month when even more safety professionals have the opportunity to participate in another offering of the comprehensive emergency response course.
Those who recently graduated from the March course were Kevin St. Peter of the fire department, Sean Andrus of the police department, James Atkinson, president of Granite Island Group, Kenneth Richard of the fire department, Millard Ring of the ambulance department, Michael Eldridge of the forestry department and Stephen D'Amato, Winthrop's harbormaster.
St. Peter, Atkinson and Richard joined the ambulance department as first responders soon after earning the certificate. First responders are trained for many basic life-saving techniques and often ride with a pair of emergency medical technicians on ambulance runs.
"It's added another dimension to our department," Lesch said, Friday. "The state requires us to send two EMTs on each ambulance run, so now the first responders give us more depth with our crews."
To become an EMT requires double the number of training hours as a first responder, including more hands-on experience and cycles in emergency rooms and on ambulance runs, Lesch explained. She added, EMTs learn a few more skills than a first responder.
The ambulance department in conjunction with local business Granite Island Group, which donated enough money to offer the course free for any Rockport safety personnel, and the American Red Cross will offer another course starting the weekend of April 19 and finishing Sunday, May 4. Classes meet from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays over three consecutive weekends at the Rockport Police Station Community Room. Beverages, snacks and lunch are included.
"We're always recruiting," Lesch said, "but we don't have the budget to do what Atkinson has done for the department. We didn't really have any first responders before, so to have three new first responders has been a real benefit to the department, especially with the level of training they received; it's fantastic."
The intensive course consists of cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), blood bourne pathogens training, emergency administration of oxygen, the use of Epi-pens for allergic reactions as well as methods used to stabilize patients with a cervical collar, the loading of back boards and gurneys and how to load and unload patients from an ambulance in a safe manner.
The course also covered the emergency care of children and infants, and provided training on assisting with emergency childbirth.
In fact, graduates of the course receive seven different American Red Cross certifications, Atkinson said.
Atkinson describes the course as a base-line introduction into the world of emergency services.
"We hope it will benefit all of Rockport's emergency response departments," he said. "This course will save lives and will make the community safer. We really have the momentum and everything we need to make the public safer in Rockport and in Cape Ann as a whole."
He added Rockport is currently the only Cape Ann community where this type of training is being offered. It is open to anyone, but those who are not Rockport safety employees will pay about $500 for the course.
In addition to the upcoming Red Cross first responder course, which already has nine participants signed up, the group is also planning an EMT course scheduled for this fall.
"The Rockport Ambulance Department encourages this recruitment in hopes of enlarging the roster of already dedicated EMT's," Lesch said.
The spring courses will culminate with an Emergency Service Week May 14 to 24 with the ambulance department hosting the 12th annual EMS Day on May 18 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Public Works yard located on Upper Main Street. All of Rockport's emergency services will be available with personnel and vehicles on display.
An American Red Cross CPR course will also be offered during EMS week.
For further information on the upcoming Red Cross first responder and EMT courses or on EMS Day, contact Lesch at 978-546-9589
Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.


Course registration requirements at a glance.
r An Emergency Response Course conducted by the American Red Cross of Northeast Massachusetts will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays for three weekends in a row — April 19 & 20, 26 & 27, and May 3 & 4 — from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Rockport Police Station located at 168 Upper Main St. in Rockport.
r Advanced registration is required; seating is limited.
r There is no charge for this course so long as the student is a candidate for, or member of the Rockport Fire, Police or Ambulance departments, a Rockport lifeguard, or other related Rockport Public Safety personnel. Students are required to be nominated by a Rockport police, fire or EMS coordinator and be approved for the course by Ambulance Department Head Rosemary Lesch, who may be reached at 978-546-9589.
r To register, call the Red Cross at 978-922-2224 and ask for Heidi or Marlene.
r The American Red Cross of Northeast Massachusetts is located at 100 Cummings Center, Suite 207-F, Beverly, MA

Several Rockport public safety personnel recently completed a First Responder course offered by the American Red Cross. Safety personnel were able to complete the extensive 52-hour course free of charge last month thanks to a donation from James Atkinson of Granite Island Group. Graduating last month were (back row, left to right) Kevin St. Peter, Frank Gustie (instructor), Sean Andrus, James Atkinson, (front row, left to right) Kenneth Richard, Millard Ring, Michael Eldridge and Stephen D'Amato. Three went on to join the town's Ambulance Department after completing the course.
None / Courtesy photo

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