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Fairfield County EMS stresses training gains and restarts local EMT class
Summary
Deputy Chief Patrick Denine told the county council that Fairfield County EMS staff averaged about 40–50 hours of continuing education, all personnel received neonatal resuscitation certification in December 2025, and a local EMT course has resumed at the Quick Jobs building with 13 students; a resident commenter urged faster emergency response times.
Fairfield County Deputy Chief of Clinical Services Patrick Denine told the county council on March 9 that the county’s emergency medical services have expanded training and reopened a local EMT pipeline.
"We became the first EMS agency to get all of our personnel certified in neonatal resuscitation program," Denine said, describing training delivered through the Neoher Foundation. He said providers completed about "40 to 50 hours of continuing education" on topics ranging from mental-health awareness to cardiac resuscitation and trauma care.
Denine said the service offers free CPR certification to residents and reported that 200 people were certified in the past year. He also highlighted clinical outcomes: returning pulses after cardiac arrest were about 29% in calendar year 2025, a rate Denine described as near the high end of the national average.
The county has restarted an EMT class hosted at the Quick Jobs building (Room 123, Midlands Tech Fairfield campus). Denine said the class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.; the current cohort has 13 students and is expected to graduate in May. He invited council members to the graduation ceremony scheduled for May 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Councilmembers praised the effort. "We appreciate what y'all do for the county," one member said during questions. Denine also said his office is working to expand stroke-care training and hopes to offer Advanced Stroke Life Support instruction after completing instructor certification.
During public comment, resident Jeff Schaefer raised concerns about response times. "They can't. They're not located strategically enough to get to us," Schaefer said, urging the council to prioritize police, EMS and fire services.
Why it matters: The briefing outlined local workforce development (a renewed EMT course and in‑county training), measurable clinical outcomes, and public expectations about response coverage — factors that affect public safety planning and future budget priorities.
What’s next: Denine said the county will offer another EMT class starting in September and that residents should contact his office or the county’s social channels for scheduling information.
