Class works with first responders throughout county

By Staff
Melissa Cason
The Franklin County Fire Association is working to prepare first responders for different emergency situations by offering a class to help teach emergency fundamentals.
Russellville firefighter and EMT-basic Lt. Justin Green is the class instructor.
The course is offered three times a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for the next three weeks.
"The Tuesday night classes are for the west end of the county, the Thursday night classes are for the east end of the county and Saturdays are for both," Green said.
The course covers many different medical areas including, but not limited, to childbirth, poisoning and substance abuse, pediatric and geriatric emergencies and terrorism awareness.
The course is offered through the Franklin County Fire Association and is paid for through money secured from a private donation.
"Our goal is to give the first people on the scene enough knowledge to help until reinforcements can arrive," Green said.
He said the first responder's course is the level just below the EMT-Basic, and is a portion of Fire Fighting I.
"We'd like all our county's volunteers to have at least Fire Fighting I, so we hope some or all of the participants in this course will continue until they receive at least Fire Fighting I," Green said.