A Battlefield firefighter briefs OTC students on a motor vehicle collision scenario they are about to encounter.
A group of OTC students put their emergency-response skills to the test at a simulation held yesterday in Battlefield, Missouri. The event, coordinated in conjunction with CoxHealth, Mercy and the Battlefield Fire Department, taught OTC paramedic and emergency medical technician students how to safely extract patients from crashed motor vehicles.
“We wanted to make this as realistic as possible,” said Josh Freeman, OTC Emergency Medical Services director. “In this field, it’s crucial that we give our students the hands-on experiences needed to apply the knowledge and skills they’ve learned in the classroom.”
The students began the day reviewing extrication techniques and the equipment necessary for the job. After that, the students participated in several hands-on scenarios. In the staged scenes, a number of patients – played by both actors and medical simulation manikins – were involved in traumatic motor-vehicle collisions. The students had to collaborate with Battlefield firefighters to safely remove the patients from their vehicles and prepare them for transport to the hospital.
OTC paramedic student Hannah Patterson stands in front of the Cox Air Care helicopter
Cox Air Care was also at the scene to give students a real-life look at what it’s like to transport critical patients to the hospital by helicopter. OTC paramedic student Hannah Patterson said that was her favorite part.
“I hope to become a flight paramedic someday,” she explained. “So that hands-on experience – getting to work directly with people who do that kind of work every day – meant a lot to me.”
Hannah will graduate with her Associate of Applied Science in Paramedic in December. After that, she plans to take the paramedic certification exam and find a job in the Springfield area. When asked why she decided to pursue a career in emergency medical services, she said it was more than just the adrenaline rush that drew her to the field.
“This is a special job,” she explained. “While it definitely requires motivation and determination, it also requires a lot of heart and compassion. We see people on the worst days of their lives, and I want to be there to help them through that.”
About OTC Emergency Medical Services
OTC EMT-Basic: The OTC EMT-Basic course is a seven-credit-hour course typically completed in 16 weeks. Upon completion, students will qualify for the National Registry practical and written examinations. Successfully passing the exams will qualify the applicant to apply for licensure in the state of Missouri by the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and by the National Registry of EMTs.
OTC Paramedic: Through OTC’s Paramedic program, students can pursue either a certificate or a degree. The program consists of classroom lectures as well as clinical and field internships. Students who complete the degree program will receive an Associate of Applied Science from OTC and qualify for the paramedic certification exam through the National Registry of EMTs. Graduates will also qualify for licensing through the Missouri Department of the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services.
