More EMTs greatly needed; Monona family very committed to providing emergency care

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions will be offering an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course in Waukon beginning January 8, 2024. This 138-hour course, which will conclude in May, will be an in-person class held right here locally in Waukon, which is a huge advantage to students attending. Registration for the class must be completed prior to the orientation night January 8.

One particular family in Monona is very involved in providing these essential services in their community and explains why they are so committed to providing these life-saving services.

“I first became an EMT in 1990 and volunteered for about 10 years, but couldn’t keep up with it due to my mom’s sudden change in her health as I was her caregiver.  I always wanted to go back to EMS volunteering and did after I retired a few years ago,” explains Vicki Heilmann, EMT of Monona.  “I am currently the training officer for our crew.  In fact, several members of my family are volunteers with our service. My husband, Doug Heilmann, is an ambulance driver; my son, Preston Landt, is an EMT and the chief of our service and my grandson, Trent Landt, is also an EMT. It makes us all feel so good to make a difference in people’s lives and to be able to help them when they feel they are having the worst day of their lives. We are there to help them get through it.”

Vicki’s son, Preston, adds “When I moved back to Monona, I was looking for a way to help the community since I worked from home and knew I would have some time. I was first looking at the Fire Department but I saw an article in the paper that they were looking for EMTs in Monona. I remembered that Mom was an EMT when I was a kid and I thought it looked interesting. I decided to take the class and really liked it.”

“Over the years I have seen how many residents need emergency assistance at some point. It might just be for a sick elderly person or someone that had a traumatic injury. Either way, that is a resident that is in need of help. I feel like if everyone gives up some of their free time to help others in need we will all be at a better place.  I also like that if I am ever in any kind of emergency situation I know what to do to make a more positive outcome.”

The EMT class prepares the students to provide pre-hospital assessment and care for patients of all ages with a variety of medical conditions and traumatic injuries. Areas of study include an introduction to emergency medical services systems, roles and responsibilities of EMTs, anatomy and physiology, medical emergencies, trauma, special considerations for working in the pre-hospital setting, and providing patient transportation.

The class meets two nights per week, Mondays and Wednesdays, from 6-10 p.m. each night, and clinicals will be held in-person.  Students who successfully complete this class will be eligible to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification examination. With this certification, individuals are able to volunteer on their own community’s ambulance service or rescue squad, as well as be prepared for careers in emergency services.

For more information, contact Jacob Dougherty, Paramedic, EMS Manager, or Cheryl Livingston, Paramedic, Class Instructor, at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411. Registration information can be found through the QR code above or at:
https://nicc.augusoft.net/index.cfm?method=ClassInfo.ClassInformation&in....