First Responder Dual Credit Info Session this Month
SD83 Careers Department and B.C.’s Emergency Health Services will be providing an information meeting this month for parents and students interested in one of the District’s latest dual credit courses.
The Emergency Medical Responder Program will be hosted at J.L. Jackson Secondary in Salmon Arm starting in February 2025. There is a hope the program can expand to the southern part of the district as well in time. The program is open to all district Grade 10-12 students but older students will be favoured in the interview process.
The one semester course is sponsored by the JIBC (Justice Institute of BC), BC Ambulance and SD83. The program is geared towards students interested in the following careers: Paramedic, Firefighting, Law Enforcement, Medicine, Nursing, and working in remote resource camps where industrial first aid attendants are required. At the end of the course, students who achieve over 75% will receive their EMR ticket and then be able to license as an EMR. The EMR ticket is a prerequisite for the PCP (primary Care paramedic) license which is a prerequisite for more advanced and specialized tickets. Students will also receive four credits towards high school graduation. The course will be taught by JL Jackson Teacher Greg Seed, who will be trained as an EMR this summer. Students will work with real ambulance equipment and likely have assistance from real paramedics in the community to help teach different parts of the course. As this is a dual credit course, tuition for students is free but there will be a fee for the main textbook and other administrative fees.
BC Emergency Health Services Youth Project Coordinator Deborah Roberts will be in Salmon Arm to present an overview of the course, answer any questions and lay down expectations for students accepted into this rewarding but demanding course. The information session takes place Thursday, February 22nd at 7PM in the JL Jackson Library.
If you wish further information of the event, please contact George Richard via text or phone at 778-824-1188 or email grichard@sd83.bc.ca.