Greenfield Fire Department’s Captain Doug Batty became a licensed advanced EMT in September after completing a six-month training program.
Batty said the certification “gives the department another level of capability and advanced life support equipment on the ambulance.”
Previously, department member Tod Bryer had been the only advanced EMT on the force.
“I gave up my life for about 6 months,” Batty said.
The training started in March and required 300 hours of class and 80 hours of clinical practice.
The advanced EMT certification allows a responder to administer additional aid, including providing medication for heart attacks, and starting IV’s.
“We did this because we wanted to get the next level up to make sure the town was protected,” Batty said.
His certification was funded through the department’s training budget.
Now that two members are certified in Greenfield, he said “that level of care can be pulled off the ambulance” from the town’s own force.
He said the certification not only helps the town directly, it helps the whole area.
“We’re part of mutual aid, so if something big happens, the mutual aid contract knows that Greenfield has that capability,” he said.
Batty has been with the Greenfield Fire Department for five years and has maintained an EMT certification for more than ten.
He said that he’s already made use of his advanced training several times since completing the certification.