Southwest Colorado Community College has hired a new full-time coordinator for its Emergency Medical Services Program just as new courses are scheduled to begin.

Troy Salazar has transferred to SCCC from Pueblo Community College's main campus in Pueblo, where he was a full-time EMS instructor since 2005.

Salazar returns to the Four Corners, having been a 1981 graduate of Farmington High School. He received his initial Emergency Medical Technician certification in Moab, Utah, in 1997. He went on to graduate from PCC's EMS program in Pueblo in 2000 with an Associate of Applied Science Degree. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management in 2012 from Colorado Christian University.

Troy will assist other training agencies with EMS needs. He is currently working with Montezuma-Cortez High School teacher Lori Mott on the EMS/Fire Science program there as well as with Silverton's EMS program.

To aid agencies dependent upon volunteer first responders, SCCC recently obtained its Training Center certification through the Colorado Division of Fire Safety and is now able to offer Emergency Medical Responder courses that result in state certification. SCCC will be offering EMR courses for anyone in the community interested in learning about the EMS system.

Troy also will coordinate the Colorado Symposium on Emergency Care scheduled for May 15-18, 2014, in Durango. This conference is an excellent way for EMS professionals to obtain the continuing education credits required for certification renewal. The symposium provides training on current topics and advancements in emergency care as well as refresher courses.

Here are upcoming EMS Courses in Southwest Colorado:

An EMT course designed specifically for wildland firefighters will be offered at the Upper Pine Fire Department in Bayfield beginning in November and ending in February, just in time for the 2014 fire season.

The SCCC Durango campus will also offer an AHA Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) course for initial or renewal certification on Dec. 6 and Dec. 13.

SCCC's Mancos Campus will offer an AHA Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) class for initial or renewal certification on Nov. 8 and Nov. 9 as well as an eight-week Emergency Medical Responder course beginning Oct. 21. The EMR course will meet on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9:30 p.m.

The following courses will be offered at SCCC during the Spring semester, beginning on Jan. 13:

EMT (Durango & Mancos).

ACLS (Mancos).

EMT-IV (Durango & Mancos).

EMT- Intermediate (Durango).

PALS (Durango).

EMR (Durango).

BLS and ALS refresher courses (Durango & Mancos).

For questions concerning EMS education or to schedule an advising appointment, contact Troy Salazar at 970-247-2929, ext. 7206, or via e-mail at Troy.Salazar@pueblocc.edu.