Wallace Community College Selma Blog

DEMOPOLIS, Ala. - Wallace Community College Selma is helping local firefighters prepare to better serve their community through a 12-week Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training program at its Demopolis campus.

The training brings instruction directly to City of Demopolis Fire/Rescue Department personnel, allowing them to build emergency medical skills close to home as they work toward EMT certification.

Fire Chief Gregg Russell said about eight department members, including himself and his training officer, are participating. At the time of the interview, the class was in its fourth week, meeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For Russell, the training addresses a practical need: preparing more personnel to respond to the medical emergencies the department encounters in the city.

"It's very important because we run the medical calls, so we need all our men certified to be EMT," Russell said. "So it helps the city out a whole lot, too."

The program is designed to combine classroom instruction, hands-on laboratory training, and clinical experiences with preparation for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians examination. Planned instruction covers patient assessment, basic life support, CPR, trauma response, patient care and transport, and emergency operations.

Russell said the class is helping participants build foundational skills, including checking blood pressure and learning how to respond to medical emergencies before a patient reaches the hospital.

The EMT training project received an $11,457 grant award. The project's funding plan supports instruction, textbooks, and training materials, as well as examination and credentialing costs, helping department personnel pursue the qualifications needed to serve as EMTs.

By expanding access to training for current firefighters, the partnership aims to increase the department's pool of qualified emergency medical personnel and strengthen its ability to serve Demopolis residents.

The EMT course builds on an existing relationship between Wallace Community College Selma and the City of Demopolis Fire/Rescue Department. Russell said department personnel have also participated in Wallace's ACE program through its adult education and workforce training efforts.

"The partnership with Wallace is great," Russell said. "So me and Wallace have been working together a lot since they've been here."

Having the course available in Demopolis makes the college's resources more accessible to the department. Russell described Wallace's local presence as a major advantage for personnel seeking additional training and professional development.

"With the help of Wallace, we were able to do this class," he said.

Russell also pointed to opportunities for younger residents interested in public safety careers. He said a new high school firefighter program could provide a starting point for students who later pursue EMT training and additional qualifications for employment with the department.

The collaboration demonstrates how Wallace Community College Selma connects education with local workforce needs. By bringing training to Demopolis, the college is helping public servants develop skills that can benefit the people and communities they serve.

Through partnerships that support workforce development and community service, Wallace Community College Selma continues its commitment to Building Pathways. Creating Opportunities. Changing Lives.

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Wallace Selma Brings EMT Training to Demopolis Firefighters