The department will be offering an IDPH-certified EMR Education Course from 6-10 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Dec. 12 – Feb. 20. Classes will be held at the Prophetstown Fire Dept. at 104 W. 2nd Street. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 28, with an in-system course fee of $345 and an out-of-system course fee of $395. Illinois EMR licensure is not included in the course fee.
Prophetstown Ambulance Service Director Julie Pope hopes the convenient location and relatively low fees will inspire those ages 17+ in Prophetstown or the surrounding communities to take steps to join the department. A combination of factors has led to a decline in the ranks of local First Responders, whether on a paid or volunteer basis.
Prophetstown Ambulance is staffed 24/7 at the ESDA building, which hosts living quarters and the department’s primary ambulance. Responders can remain on-call while at home with a pay rate of $5 per hour while doing so. Volunteers also receive stipends for their time on the clock.
Despite most ambulance departments being short-staffed, they’re always ready to provide essential services to those in need. Prophetstown Ambulance dispatches a paramedic, EMT, and EMR on every call.
The biggest struggle is finding people to fill all the shifts, especially when many have other full-time jobs. “When someone calls 911, they expect someone to be there quickly,” said Pope. If volunteers could cover a 4-hour shift, it will give others a break and allow more flexibility in scheduling.
The courses are designed to give students the knowledge and skills to provide immediate lifesaving interventions. “It’s a good intro to emergency medical services. Many of the graduates go on to get licensed,” said Pope, who can be contacted at 815-632-7806 or ptownems@hotmail.com for more information.
The EMR application can be found below, or here.
