Border Patrol agents receive EMT training
PRESQUE ISLE — A dozen Border Patrol agents assigned to the Houlton Border Patrol Sector’s Medical Response Team are better prepared to respond to medical emergencies as a result of a recently completed 36-hour recertification course offered through the Northern Maine Community College Continuing Education Division.
The refresher class was designed to assure participants have current knowledge and skills to work at the basic emergency medical technician (EMT) level.
Photo courtesy of Northern Maine Community College
NMCC EMS PROGRAM COORDINATOR and lead instructor Daryl Boucher, left, leads a lab session in the NMCC Allied Health Simulation Center during the recent Border Patrol refresher course hosted by NMCC’s Continuing Education Division.
It covers numerous topics related to medical emergencies and assessment and meets training standards, and testing and certification guidelines, established by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the State of Maine and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).
“Our agents are trained as first responders to help make our communities safer,” said David Astle, assistant chief patrol agent for the Houlton Border Patrol Sector of the Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection. “They are also trained to assist other state and local law enforcement agencies to respond to emergencies. Some of our agents work in extremely remote areas where EMS response time is critical.”
Astle said his agents protect 611 miles of border 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and as such can end up being first responders at the scene of an emergency when an immediate medical response is needed.
Border Patrol agents are required to complete 72 hours of training during their certification period. A portion of these hours must come from a refresher course, such as the one contracted with the Continuing Education Division at NMCC.
“We have provided EMS and other training to members of the Border Patrol for quite some time and have built a good relationship with them. When they have a training need, they know we can provide them a quality experience,” said Leah Buck, assistant dean of continuing education. “Working with them on this project to provide customized training for 12 agents has just moved that partnership up to a new level. Providing customized training to the local corporate and community groups is what the Continuing Education Division specializes in at NMCC. Companies call with training needs and we make it happen.”
To coordinate the Border Patrol EMS training, Buck turned to the nursing and allied health department at NMCC, specifically the EMS program at the college. The two-year program prepares individuals to take the National Registry Paramedic Exam and to be confident, highly skilled team leaders and pre-hospital practitioners.
Scott Michaud, an instructor in the program, coordinated the refresher course and was assisted in the instructional components by NMCC program coordinator and lead faculty member Daryl Boucher, as well as part-time instructors Matt Beil and Warren Grass.
Border Patrol agents completed coursework covering several areas of emergency medical services, including trauma assessment, CPR, cardiac assessments and treatments, airway and breathing, and operations and rescue.
In addition to coursework, the agents participated in lab sessions, a number of which were held in NMCC’s state-of-the-art Allied Health Simulation Center, which includes both adult and pediatric mannequin patient simulators, capable of replicating most human vital signs, conditions and ailments.
“These agents have taken courses all over the country at some of the most prestigious EMS schools and colleges, and several who completed the recent refresher course at NMCC shared that what we have here in instructor talent and facilities is unmatched,” said Boucher.
“We provide organizations a great training experience and our goal is to always exceed their expectations. NMCC has so much to offer the businesses and organizations in The County … we are close, we can provide employees with training customized to the needs of your organization and offer it when you need it,” said Buck. “Our campus has lots of conference, classroom and lab spaces and we also can bring the training directly to the company site if preferred. Of course, our greatest strength is that we can bring the knowledge and skills of the NMCC faculty to the project. The Border Patrol agents we trained in this project were very impressed with the quality of instruction. We hear that often, whether it is EMS training, computer courses, or a customized technical course … it is our instructors that really make it a high quality experience.”
To reach the Continuing Education Division at NMCC to learn more about customized training opportunities, you can reach Leah Buck at 768-2768 or e-mail lbuck@nmcc.edu or Beth Hummel at 768-2849 or e-mail bhummel@nmcc.edu.
