Westport EMS Needs Volunteers: EMS Certification Class Starts September 21st
Contributed photo Westport Volunteer EMSWestport Volunteer Emergency Medical ServiceContributed photoWestport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service (WVEMS) has opened registration for their Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) course beginning on September 21st. Space is limited and goes quickly. All COVID-19 guidelines will be followed, including a vaccination mandate for all students.
The non-profit EMS organization’s volunteers continued to staff the town’s three ambulances throughout the pandemic - solidifying their dedication to the community - while nearly two years of missed classes has led to a decline in membership.
This highly-renowned course is taught by Westport Paramedic and EMS Instructor Rick Baumblatt, and will utilize cutting edge equipment and technologies in harmony with his over four decades of EMS experience.
High schoolers aged 14 and above are permitted to join the Westport EMS Youth Corps - a prestigious group of high school-aged members of the service that fosters leadership skills and prepares for possible future careers in medicine. Many Youth Corps members continue onto careers in the medical fields. Per State regulations, 14 and 15 year olds are permitted for EMR certification only, and can become EMT certified when they turn 16.
Contributed photo. Upon successful completion of the course and its testing, students will be eligible for state certification, allowing them to volunteer on Westport’s ambulances - saving lives in their community.
“Throughout the pandemic lockdowns, many neighbors actually reached out wondering when they could join us on the ambulances - as they had more time in their schedule and a passion to give back. This is your opportunity to join us in helping our community” says Crew Chief and Board Member Jaime Bairaktaris.
No prior experience or knowledge is necessary to take the course. Members come from many walks of life in our community; all enjoy the satisfaction of being able to save lives in their free time.
A full tuition reimbursement program is available to those who successfully complete the EMT course and go on to volunteer with WVEMS.
Those interested in obtaining additional details or applying should email the Westport EMS Training Division: training@westportems.org. Anyone interested in taking a CPR class or learning more about Westport Volunteer EMS should visit our website: westportems.org.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 7 to 15 mph.
High Tides: 12:12 PM
Low Tides: 6:17 AM/6:35 PM
Tonight
Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 65. South wind 6 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tomorrow
A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. West wind 3 to 6 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Calm wind becoming northwest around 6 mph after midnight.
Town of Westport Meeting Schedule
Catch a Lift Fund Heals Wounds from “America’s Longest War”; Families Welcome to Events in Fairfield County this Weekend
Catch a Lift FundStories from veterans through Catch a Lift Fund.
As America’s longest war comes to an end with the withdrawal of forces in Afghanistan, this nation will also be marking the 20th year since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the beginning of this war. Since 2010 the Catch A Lift Fund has been serving combat-injured veterans who served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan.
For the past 12 years, Catch A Lift (CAL) has witnessed the toll that war has taken on thousands upon thousands of service members. To watch them heal and find a new purpose in life, through physical, mental and spiritual wellness that our programs provide, is inspirational and pushes CAL to work harder to reach more of those in need.
“After my brother was killed in Afghanistan in 2009, I took his core beliefs of wellness (mentally and physically) and introduced that philosophy to our combat injured veterans who were returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. These men and women have life altering, catastrophic injuries, both seen and unseen. Catch A Lift's primary goal is to teach our veterans to heal holistically. Everyday we witness pain turn to purpose.” (Founder Lynn Coffland)
Dropping medication & substances, significant weight loss, finding a new purpose, breaking away from isolation and depression and learning to be part of a community once again is achieved; all through rigorous individualized programs, designed for combat inflicted injuries, taught and coached by CAL Veterans, (once in the program) and now giving back in service to their fellow brothers and sisters. The scientific correlation between physical fitness and mental health is staggering.
Catch A Lift Fund will be in Fairfield County, CT the weekend of Friday 9/10/21 through Sunday 9/12/21.
Events to register for:
Westport CT
Friday, September 10th, 5 pm-8 pm
Compo Beach Sunset Celebration & Remembrance Event
(outdoors patriotic celebration with food, drinks, music, and special tributes!)
Westport CT
Saturday, September 11th, 3pm
Community Workout with Veterans
(outdoors & for all levels, youth, and families too!)
Ridgefield CT
Sunday, September 12th, 9 am
(music, food, and meet and greet veteran inspiring guests)
Hear from our special Veteran VIP guest speakers:
Clayton Jensen (US Army Master Sergeant) Jensen supported numerous Counterterrorism and Counternarcotics operations as well as hostage rescue, personnel recovery, and national level intelligence collection and analysis. He has supported several combat operations to include Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan (4 deployments), Iraqi Freedom (2 deployments), OEF-CCA, OEF-X, Operation Willing Spirit, and the War on Drugs
Jason Livingston (US Army Sgt) Duty stations included 8-10 CAV 4th Brigade Combat Team 4th Infantry Division Fort Hood Tx , 3/81 Armor 194th Training Brigade Fort Knox Ky-Instructor, 1-91 CAV 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Conn Barracks Schweinfurt Germany- Fire Team Leader, 6-8 CAV 4th Brigade 3rd Infantry Division Fort Stewart GA-Section Sergeant as well as the Rear Detachment First Sergeant. He deployed to Baghdad Iraq (OIF) December 2005 and again in 2010 to Logar Province Afghanistan (OEF), And was medically Retired in January 2014. Livingston is a Purple Heart award recipient who received national recognition in 2021 for continued service.
Interview opportunities are available with Founder and CEO, Lynn Coffland, coaches, team members, and veterans. Please email Jess Drew at jdrew@catchalfitfund.com for questions and/or scheduling.