It is always reassuring to know that when you have an emergency, help is just a phone call away. Tina Wheeler of Thompson Falls EMT Services is doing everything she can to make sure the community has trained responders ready when needs arise.

Emergency responders “are not the first ones to do CPR,” she stated. “Something has already happened, and we are the second ones to be involved.” Therefore, Wheeler feels it is so important to have community members trained in CPR, first aid and automated external defibrillator (AED) equipment.  

Wheeler is taking the task of training the community seriously. She has recently retired from Thomson Falls High School and has been dedicating more of her time to launching an emergency training epicenter at Thompson Falls Ambulance Services.

“We offer a variety of training levels, for lay people as well as professionals,” Wheeler clarified, saying there are various levels available for CPR, first aid and AED training courses. All classes and programs offered at the training center meet strict regulation standards, including those set by the American Heart Association.

She commented that there are “a few other safety programs in the works,” and there is a chance that down the line babysitting programs and hands/compression only CPR classes may be offered. Wheeler envisions the future of the training center as one that will provide “courses that are very helpful for everyday people.”

“We do not charge for class time but are accepting donations that are used for our (instructors) training and for mannequin supplies,” Wheeler emphasized. The training center charges $10 to $15 per course, which covers card processing fees.

Trained medical personnel are not the only aspect to a fine-tuned emergency response team. Drivers are a necessity as well, and Thompson Falls Ambulance Service needs drivers.

“We have had a variety of current drivers take EMT training, so they have moved to the back of the ambulance,” Wheeler said. She encourages anyone who may be interested in volunteering to sign up for the driver training.

“This is still a volunteer service. We do not want to discourage people, but this is not a paid job,” she added, as all positions are voluntary.

Thompson Falls currently has five instructors. In Noxon and Trout Creek, instructor Teri Burt, who also is affiliated with the Thompson Falls training center program, is available for certification classes.

Those interested in attending a training or to volunteer for a position should call the station at 827-4536 and leave a message if no one answers.