NGTC Gets EMS Grant

North Georgia Technical College receives a grant for EMS training.

NGTC was recently awarded a $97,900 Rural Business Development Grant to improve ambulance-based safety and technology training for Emergency Medical Services Program students.

Acting NGTC President Mark Ivester said that the grant will fund the purchase of an ambulance and related technology for the emergency medical students to access.

In addition to the purchase of an ambulance, the funds will help students in five Emergency Medical Services programs of study including Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedicine.

School officials said graduates will learn highly desirable and hirable industry requested skills such as the ability to safely drive an ambulance in emergency conditions; safely load and unload patients without risk to the patient or the EMS personnel; and to effectively operate ambulance-based, life-saving technology.

Several medical transport businesses in North Georgia Tech’s eight-county service area provided letters of support for the grant and said they would consider program graduates for new positions.

North Georgia Technical College is the sole public training option for emergency medical services in the eight-county service area.

Ivester said the school is thankful to receive these funds that will ultimately help save lives as well as promote private job creation in the area.

He added that students and the community will all benefit from the grant and they are very appreciative of the relationship with the USDA to provide such a needed resource and training for the area.