Eight members of the City of Valdosta’s Fire Department recruit class will spend two weeks training at South Georgia Medical Center as part of their Emergency Medical Technician course.

The Valdosta Fire Department, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and SGMC have partnered together to provide a comprehensive EMT course. VFD requested the recruits complete the EMT course prior to entering their actual fire fighting training.

As part of the course, recruits participate in extensive classroom lecture and skills training at WGTC. Upon completion of the classroom phase, participants receive clinical training at SGMC’s Emergency Department, Labor and Delivery Unit, Pediatric Care Unit and Mobile Health Care Services.

Additional EMS training will be conducted at Community Ambulance in Cook County.

According to WGTC EMS Program Director Joey Thompson, "The clinical phase of the course at SGMC is one of the most important as the students will be exposed to real world patients and emergency situations like the ones that they will encounter in the field.”

SGMC Chief Development Officer Bill Forbes welcomed the students to hospital on Thursday.

After the completion of the clinical phase, students will sit for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians written and practical exam and upon successful completion be licensed by the Georgia Department of Public Health as EMTs.

Recruits will then enter a comprehensive firefighter training program taught by the Valdosta Fire Department as part of the initial firefighter credentialing process.