Two Montezuma Fire and Rescue volunteers earn National EMS Certification

​       Marissa Geerlings and Cody Meinecke, volunteers with the Montezuma Fire and Rescue Department, recently completed the coursework to earn their National EMS Certification. The two volunteers attended class two nights a week for six months and had to go through 36-hours of ER ride time. In addition, they had to take the practical test, a hands-on skills-based examination along with the national NREMT written exam.

By J.O. Parker
 
     Two Montezuma Fire and Rescue volunteers were recently recognized for earning their National EMS Certification.
        Marissa Geerlings and Cody Meinecke have completed the required course work to earn the certification.
      “I’m so proud of myself,” said Geerlings, who serves as an EMT and ambulance driver with the Montezuma Fire Department. “This has been something that I have been working so hard to get. Countless nights of studying have paid off.”
      As an EMT, Geerlings and Meinecke will assess a patient’s condition and administer emergency medical care at a basic level.
     “Our main task is going on ambulance calls and helping people who have emergencies get the best possible emergency care,” said Geerlings.
        Geerlings and Meinecke attended class two nights a week for six months and had to go through 36-hours of ER ride time to earn the certification. They also had to pass a number of tests including the practical test, a hands-on skills-based examination, along with the national NREMT test. The NREMT (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians) written exam covers the entire spectrum of EMS care including: Airway, Respiration and Ventilation; Cardiology and Resuscitation; Trauma; Medical and Obstetrics/Gynecology; and EMS Operations.
        “It is a sense of accomplishment,” said Meinecke. “I want to help the department and the community.”
        Meinecke has severed on the MFD for two years and the Barnes City Fire Department for 6.5 years.
        “I am currently an interior firefighter and EMT,” he said.
        He previously served as assistant fire chief at Barnes City.
      Geerlings said Joel Kercheval and Mindy Icenbice with the MFD have always been there when she had questions or was unsure of what something was.
       “I couldn’t have done it without them,” said Geerlings. “It’s not always easy being a first responder, but when it’s your second family, it’s all worth it.”