February 26, 2019 (Middletown, Conn.) — Students enrolled in the emergency medical technician (EMT) course at Middlesex Community College are among the first in the state to learn how to administer intramuscular (IM) epinephrine by traditional syringe in cases of anaphylaxis. The Connecticut EMS Medical Advisory Committee and the Commissioner of Public Health approved the expanded training program on February 11, 2019, to offset the rising cost and short supply of auto-injectors such as the EpiPen.
“I want to be on the cutting edge of teaching and have the students actually perform the injections in their training,” said Michael Davis, a certified EMT and instructor of the MxCC course. “My goal is to train competent EMTs in the hopes that if I ever need an EMT, I want someone who knows what they are doing.”
Davis, who has more than 25 years of experience,worked with Middlesex Health to immediately implement the training during his semester-long EMT course. Davis and licensed paramedic Brandon Curtis led a hands-on demonstration for the class of 16 people on February 25. The students used professional syringes, vials, and ampules filled with simulated medication to replicate the injections on skin pads made with rubber latex. IM by syringe and auto-injectors are normally applied to the patient’s outer thigh area.
“It is nice to do this and not have to spend so much money,” said Annie Bill, a student from Lyme, Conn., who enrolled in the EMT course to supplement her application to the United States Coast Guard.
The EMT certification course at Middlesex Community College is designed for anyone aged 16 and over who is interested in learning more about the emergency response system and in caring for patients in an ambulance en route to the hospital. Using real equipment, students gain the basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation to sick and injured patients.
Middlesex Community College is also one of 10 EMT certification testing sites in Connecticut. The practical exams are developed by the National Registry of Medical Technicians (NREMT) for students who have successfully completed approved EMT training anywhere in the state.
Anaphylaxis is a state of severe allergic reaction, such as from a bee sting, which requires immediate treatment. The medication epinephrine is a form of adrenaline that is used to reverse symptoms within minutes.
For more information about the MxCC EMT course, please visit https://mxcc.edu/ce/courses/emt.
Since 1966, Middlesex Community College has provided high-quality, affordable, and accessible education to a diverse population, enhancing the strengths of individuals through degree, certificate, and lifelong learning programs that lead to university transfer, employment, and an enriched awareness of our shared responsibilities as global citizens. A part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system, MxCC offers more than 70 degree or certificate programs at the main 35-acre campus in Middletown, MxCC@Platt in Meriden, and online.
