During my visit to the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul for the Minnesota EMS Educators conference I was invited to Station 51 home of Freedom House. Station 51 is also the home of the St. Paul EMS Academy which is an amazing effort that is providing EMT training and employment for economically and socially disadvantaged youth in the twin cities.
I was both stunned and filled with admiration. The EMTs working in the BLS interfacility service that I met were outstanding young people. Although Station 51 is loosely supported by St Paul Fire Department, Station 51 is a collection of scavenged office furniture and training equipment, as well as other cast off supplies.
Freedom House is a great collaboration between the Saint Paul Fire Department, Parks and Recreation, and InverHills Community College.
Station 51 EMTs provide schedule interfacility transports and emergency department discharges. The EMTs I met raved about their experiences and the patient assessment and treatment skills they are learning.
Station 51 dispatches their own calls and transport units.
Many Station 51 EMTs are training to be paramedics and testing for firefighter positions. Thus physical fitness and wellness on duty is encouraged.
A classroom and lab in Station 51 which is a retired fire station. The dividers, formerly for bunk rooms, are used as scenario stations.
Learn more about Freedom House:
- Saint Paul EMS Academy website
- Program Diversity to EMS from JEMS.com
- Freedom House Educates Youth EMTs from Mediccast.com Podcast
- Earn While You Learn at the St. Paul EMS Academy: Episode 67 of the EMSEduCast Podcast
