Fourteen graduate from EMT-Paramedic training at VGCC


Seated, from left: EMT-Paramedic graduates Hannah Tuck, Susan Adcock, April Manyon, Wendy Garrett, Evelyn Smith and Lindsey Simmons; standing, from left: EMS coordinator Stephen Barney with graduates Steven Stinson, Jon Elliott, Chase Anderson, Kyle Williams, James Grant, Valerie Bibee, Chris Adcock, Davis Speed and instructor Vivian Loyd. (VGCC photo)

Seated, from left: EMT-Paramedic graduates Hannah Tuck, Susan Adcock, April Manyon, Wendy Garrett, Evelyn Smith and Lindsey Simmons; standing, from left: EMS coordinator Stephen Barney with graduates Steven Stinson, Jon Elliott, Chase Anderson, Kyle Williams, James Grant, Valerie Bibee, Chris Adcock, Davis Speed and instructor Vivian Loyd. (VGCC photo)

Vance-Granville Community College recently honored seven women and seven men who completed the college’s year-long Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic program in July.

Graduates included Kyle Williams of Franklinton; Davis Speed of Gold Sand (Franklin County); Susan Adcock, April Manyon and Lindsey Simmons, all of Henderson; Valerie Bibee of Kittrell; Jon Elliott of Littleton; Evelyn Smith of Louisburg; Wendy Garrett of Norlina; Chris Adcock and Hannah Tuck, both of Oxford; Chase Anderson of Roanoke Rapids; Steven Stinson of Wake Forest; and James Grant of Warrenton.

Vivian Loyd, a Registered Nurse and Paramedic Level I instructor, was the instructor for the class.

EMT-Paramedic instruction includes 596 hours of didactic (classroom) training and 500 hours of clinical education, or field internship. To be eligible to take the EMT-P course, students had to first complete a 203-hour EMT-Basic course and pass a state exam.

An EMT-Paramedic has enhanced skills beyond the EMT-Basic level, including being able to administer additional interventions and medications. The EMT-P delivers the highest level of pre-hospital medical care in North Carolina. In order to successfully complete the EMT-P course, students had to pass several different exams, including a “scope of practice” exam. This scenario-based evaluation tested the hands-on and critical thinking skills of students, as they delivered the appropriate treatment to multiple trauma patients and dealt with pediatric, environmental, and mental-illness situations. Each student also had to complete an 80-hour Anatomy and Physiology course.

Now that students have completed the EMT-P course, they must take the 100-question North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services credentialing exam to become state-certified.

VGCC offers Emergency Medical Services training from the basic to the Paramedic level, in addition to continuing education. For more information on enrolling in these courses, call Stephen Barney at (252) 738-3273.