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    Panama City Corpsman Completes EMT Training

    Panama City Corpsman Completes EMT Training

    Photo By Chief Petty Officer Brannon Deugan | Hospitalman Kyle Decker, assigned to Naval Branch Health Clinic Panama City, Florida,...... read more read more

    PANAMA CITY, FL, UNITED STATES

    01.24.2019

    Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Brannon Deugan 

    NMRTC Pensacola

    On Dec. 20, a U.S. Navy corpsman graduated from Gulf Coast State College's emergency medical technician (EMT) certification course in Panama City, Florida.

    Hospitalman Kyle Decker, assigned to Naval Branch Health Clinic (NBHC) Panama City, began the one-semester program in August where he spent three hours for three evenings a week to complete the 12 credit hours of curriculum to broaden his professional knowledge base.

    "My leadership talked for a long time about having corpsmen enroll into the EMT program, and I decided that I would volunteer," said Decker, from Chesapeake, Virginia. "I also wanted to advance my knowledge of my rate and the medical field in general. I was able to see how the civilian sector does things and to see exactly what the job is of a paramedic."

    Chief Hospital Corpsman Henry Gonzales, senior enlisted leader for NBHC Panama City, explained that corpsmen who complete the EMT training are very valuable to their commands. These corpsmen learn skills that are useful within their clinics and during future deployments. During an emergency, EMT qualified corpsmen are capable of acting as first responders for civilians until proper civilian medical care arrives.

    "I'm always proud when a corpsman goes to an EMT school," said Gonzales, from Jacksonville, Florida. "I've completed [one] myself and it was beneficial.”

    Throughout the program, Decker learned about EMT methods by attending lectures, participating in laboratory assignments and completing ride-alongs with actual EMTs. The course work also included defensive tactics for healthcare providers, how to operate an emergency vehicle and trauma management.

    "The best part of the program was the clinical and the ride-along with EMTs and paramedics on the trucks," said Decker. "That was definitely a lot of fun, and the EMTs and paramedics were good about getting the students involved with patients and even a few procedures so that we could get practice. They were willing to teach us a lot and help us learn."

    Decker's attendance in the program allowed him to develop skills that he has been able to bring back to NBHC Panama City so he could assist with providing better patient care.

    "The course opened my eyes to a lot of stuff and a lot more information regarding patient care," said Decker. "I understand what questions I can ask patients to help the providers understand what is wrong with certain patients."

    Decker is still young in his Navy career and will be transferring in March to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. While he is excited about his upcoming tour with the Marines, Decker is still not sure where his naval career will take him; however, he is continuing to work toward his ultimate goal by building upon the information he has already learned as a corpsman and through the EMT course.

    "My mom is a nurse, and I have always been around the medical field,” said Decker. “It is just one of those things that interests me, and I just wanted to learn more about it," said Decker. "I haven't narrowed down exactly what I want to do yet, but one goal is that I want to become a registered nurse at the very least and go from there."

    NBHC Panama City is one of 10 branch clinics assigned to Naval Hospital Pensacola. Established in 1826, Naval Hospital Pensacola's mission is to deliver high quality health care to ensure a medically ready force and a ready medical force through strategic partnerships and innovation.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 01.24.2019
    Date Posted: 01.24.2019 15:16
    Story ID: 308119
    Location: PANAMA CITY, FL, US
    Hometown: CHESAPEAKE, VA, US
    Hometown: JACKSONVILLE, FL, US

    Web Views: 209
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN