For Immediate Release

Monday, Jan. 16, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Two Gloucester Firefighters Begin Paramedic Course

GLOUCESTER — Chief Eric Smith is pleased to announce that two Gloucester Firefighters have begun a year-long program to become certified paramedics.

Firefighters David Elwell and Michael Mitchell began the paramedic course on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at Pro EMS Center for Medics in Cambridge. The two firefighters will attend classes on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays from 5-9:30 p.m. for the next 11 1/2 months.

Firefighter Elwell, a 28-year-old Gloucester resident, has been with the Gloucester Fire Department for the last four years. Additionally, he completed six years of service as a firefighter in the United States Air Force including a tour in the United Arab Emirates in 2008 with Operation Enduring Freedom, and a tour in Iraq in 2010 with Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Firefighter Mitchell, a 30-year-old Gloucester resident, has worked for the Gloucester Fire Department since April 2012. He served in the United States Army National Guard for six years and completed a year-long tour in Afghanistan with Operation Enduring Freedom.

This intensive program is designed for seasoned EMTs, rather than entry level students with no field experience. Students partake in a variety of educational approaches, including interactive lectures and experiential, lab-based and clinical/field-based learning techniques. Through the lessons, they learn the core concepts of patient assessment, pharmacology, and airway management, and complete medical, pediatric, trauma, clinical practicum and field intern units.

“I am proud of Firefighters Elwell and Mitchell for taking the initiative to complete their paramedic training,” Chief Smith said. “The addition of two more paramedics exemplifies the fire department’s dedication to providing the highest possible level of care to the Gloucester community.”

The Gloucester Fire Department currently has 30 paramedics assigned to firefighting.

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