AHEC RECEIVES GRANT FROM COW CREEK TO SPONSOR FIRST RESPONDER PROGRAMS

Area Health Education Center (AHEC) of Southwest Oregon was awarded a grant from Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians in the amount of $10,000. AHEC will be sponsoring First Responder courses in Days Creek, Riddle and Oakridge. The term "First Responder" is applied to the first individual who arrives at the scene, regardless of the individual's type of credential. First Responders in a community are people who have completed a course and received certification in providing pre-hospital care for medical emergencies. The First Responder is an integral part of the Emergency Medical Services System and it is the goal of this training to provide students with the core knowledge, skills and attitudes to function in the capacity of a First Responder. The First Responder uses a limited amount of equipment to perform initial assessment and intervention and is trained to assist other EMS providers. AHEC hopes that students who have been trained to be First Responders go on to become emergency medical technicians, emergency physicians, nurses, or paramedics. Oregon Area Health Education Centers develop health career pathways and sustainable healthcare in Oregon communities. AHECs build community, education and healthcare partnerships. We are affiliated with OHSU and have five regional centers that provide service, particularly to rural and underserved areas.