Seventeen firefighters, including one woman, voluntarily went through a six-month-long emergency technician intermediate course composed of practical and written testing in order to become certified EMTs.

 The community will gain more first responders, who provide a higher level of care, and more personnel to work on ambulances, Thomas said.

 Thomas hopes they don’t stop their training there.

 “Hopefully some of (our firefighters), once they get their EMT, will be interested in going on to become paramedics,” Thomas said. “We have a shortage of EMTs and paramedics statewide that we’re addressing.

 ”About one year in training is the difference between an EMT and a paramedic, who unlike an EMT, is certified to administer cardiac drugs and conduct advanced lifesaving procedures.

 They are required to complete 270 hours of classroom time and 56 hours of clinical time, including emergency room procedures.

 The firefighters are now awaiting the results a national course they completed in Savannah in early October.

 “My mom is actually a nurse, so medicine has been in my family for a long time,” said Chris Meredith, one the 17 firefighters who participated in the course.