Butler County EMS Coordinator Kari Coates, along with co-instructor Tammy Fleshner, will lead EMT classes beginning in January in Greene. The training is offered through North Iowa Area Community College.
The courses are open to anyone with the desire to become an EMT and will cover lifesaving skills, basic bandaging and splinting, and how to handle trauma calls. Classes will meet on Mondays and Thursdays, with occasional Saturday sessions.
Fleshner tells RadioOnTheGo News the need for volunteer EMTs is especially important for rural Iowa
“I was on a couple of state committees years ago and it was just really disheartening to hear that people didn’t realize communities like Butler County even existed,” Fleshner said. “They thought all of the roads were four lanes. They didn’t know what a gravel road was. They had no idea that people did this without pay. Why would somebody do all of this work without getting paid? And that is the only way that we can survive in rural Iowa is by helping each other. The number of volunteers has dropped every year.”
Participants must be at least 18 years old. While being part of a local service is encouraged, it is not required. The program is open to anyone interested, not just Butler County residents.
An informational meeting will be held in the near future, those interested can contact Coates at kcoates@butlercounty.iowa.gov or call 319-509-7186.
