ORISKANY FALLS, NY — February 27th — Three members of the Oriskany Falls Fire Department recently finished training that improves the department's emergency medical response skills, the department announced. Thad Abrams and Gerald Pedersen are certified New York State Certified First Responders. In such capacity, they can use the department's rescue unit to react to EMS calls and administer basic life support care until an ambulance shows up.

At the New York State Fire Academy in Montour Falls, Nick Kosmoski finished a 130-hour accelerated Emergency Medical Technician program. The program focused on patient assessment and stabilization during medical emergencies through both classroom education and hands-on training. In order to support ambulance services and enhance early patient care, volunteer fire departments throughout New York frequently rely on personnel with EMS training.