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Posted on Thu, Jan 12, 2012 : 5:07 a.m.

Paparazzi: Huron Valley Ambulance's Citizens Academy offers an insider's view of EMS

By AnnArbor.com Staff

Area residents are invited to go behind the scenes at Huron Valley Ambulance to learn about emergency medical services during this year’s HVA Citizens Academy.

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Paramedic Tracy Woodard demonstrates the LifePak 12 monitor/defibrillator to participants at the 2011 HVA Citizens Academy.

photo courtesy of HVA

The free, interactive eight-week academy is an opportunity for participants to explore what it takes to provide quality emergency medical services to HVA’s multi-county service area.

Academy participants learn how 9-1-1 medical calls are triaged and dispatched, see demonstrations of equipment and procedures used by EMS crews in the field and get trained in the latest hands-on chest compression CPR techniques. In addition, guest lecturers from local fire and police departments and HVA special operations teams share first-hand knowledge of public safety procedures.

The Citizens Academy starts on Wednesday, Feb. 1 and runs for eight consecutive Wednesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. at HVA’s headquarters at 1200 State Circle, Ann Arbor.

The academy is limited to 25 participants on a first come, first served basis. There is no charge to attend. Participants must be at least 18 years old and live in Washtenaw County or the following western Wayne County communities: Belleville, City of Plymouth, Plymouth Township, Sumpter Township, and Van Buren Township.

For more information, contact Jason Trojan at jtrojan@hva.org or visit www.hva.org.

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