So, You Want To Save A Life—

Newtown Students Encouraged To Become MRT, EMT Certified

By Larissa Lytwyn

Certified EMT instructor Deb Aubin spends eight hours each week watching teens mature dramatically.

The catalyst?

Learning how to save lives.

This year’s course enrollment cost for high school students is $225, a fee that covers all textbooks and exam expenses. Last year’s fee was $450.

“The benefits to these students is amazing,” said Marlene Wall, assistant to Ms Aubin. Ms Wall is planning to become certified to teach EMT courses herself over the next few months.

One of the biggest misperceptions making students uncertain of pursuing EMT certification is a fear of blood, Ms Aubin.

“In actuality, though, there is usually very little blood involved in what we do,” she assured. Many of the cases the EMT responds to involve fallen elderly residents or people with chest pain.

While an EMT is capable of making patient assessments, such as checking blood pressure and other vitals, they do not have diagnostic powers.

“A lot of times someone might call and ask for an ambulance ‘just to get checked out,’ but we are not medical [experts],” said Ms Wall.

Fortunately, Ms Aubin added, a Danbury Hospital paramedic, if available, assists at the scene. “The Town of Newtown pays for this service,” Ms Aubin said, adding that Newtown ambulance is free to residents.

“Even towns with volunteer fire company companies usually don’t have volunteer ambulance services,” said Ms Aubin, “but we do.”

While state residents interested in EMT certification must be at least 16, Ms Aubin offers Medical Response Technician (MRT) training to students as young as 13.

“Each town is different according to how their emergency services are operated,” Ms Aubin said. “In Newtown, students have to apply through a volunteer fire company that has a junior MRT [division].”

Ms Aubin and Ms Wall recently completed teaching an MRT course, open to all ages, that enrolled students ages 13 to 15.

Career Center Director Peg Ragaini has a college-aged daughter, Emily, who took an EMT course through Ms Aubin when she was in high school. “She loved working and attending class with people who were older than her,” said Ms Ragaini.

Ms Aubin added, “I treat my students like they are in college.”

As they become more experienced, Ms Wall remarked on students’ development not only in emotional maturity, but also in confidence.

“And I can attest that most of Ms Aubin’s students pass the Red Cross and state examinations to become certified!” she laughed.

While most of the classes, particularly those heavily attended by students, take place at night, Ms Aubin is interested in recruiting more daytime volunteers for future EMT and MRT courses.

Places are still open for the February 1 through May 10 EMT course. Classes meet Monday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 10 pm. In addition, classes will meet every other Saturday at 9 am. Students who miss more than two classes will be removed from class and forfeit their fee.

The last day to register is February 9. For more information, contact Ms Ragaini in the Career Center at 426-1915, Ms Aubin at 426-6874, or Ms Wall at 264-8385.