THOUSAND OAKS, MOORPARK : 15 Finish Emergency Medical Training

A group of 15 sheriff’s deputies and employees from the cities of Thousand Oaks and Moorpark will graduate today from Ventura County’s first program aimed at training deputies and municipal employees as emergency medical technicians.

The graduates have all participated in an 80-hour course conducted over three months that included lessons in emergency childbirth, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, bandaging, head and spinal injuries, and how to lift or move injured patients.

“It’s just another tool, an important tool, that the patrol officers will be able to use,” said Moorpark Sgt. Keith Parks, one of seven Moorpark officers to take the course. “The EMT program really looks at human physiology so we know why the body does what it does when there’s trauma or an emergency situation.”

Also taking the course were three traffic officers from Thousand Oaks, four Moorpark city employees and one Thousand Oaks employee.

City employees were invited to participate, Parks said, so they would be more able to assist rescue workers in case of an emergency such as an earthquake.

The lessons were provided free by Pruner Health Services, Parks said. “Pruner was absolutely fantastic. They donated the instructors and the time.”

County Sheriff Larry Carpenter, Moorpark Mayor Paul Lawrason and Don Pruner of Pruner Health Services will present certificates to graduates at 4 p.m. today at the East County sheriff’s office on Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks.

Future sessions are planned, Parks said, and it is hoped that all Moorpark sheriff’s deputies will eventually take the course.