• ST. LOUIS, MO.  October 17, 2012 – Clearwire, a leading provider of 4G wireless broadband services, and the Innovative Technology Fund (ITEF) have awarded the St. Louis Public School District's Office of Career & Technical Education a grant to provide CLEAR 4G devices and service to Gateway STEM High School. The grant, valued at more than $77,000.00, will benefit students enrolled in the Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) Training Program offered at the school.

     

    “Because of our ability to provide students with access to mobile broadband, we’ve seen strong academic and career outcomes through the EMT Program,” said Ken Riddle, EMT-B Program Director at Gateway STEM High School. “78% of our students pass their certifications, compared to the national average of 50%. Put simply, there is no other program like this.”

     

    The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) certifies emergency medical service providers at four levels: First Responder; Emergency Medical Technician, Advanced EMT and Paramedic.  At Gateway, students enrolled will receive the Emergency Medical Technician -Basic (EMT-B) course, which represents the first level of the emergency medical system. An EMT trained at this level is prepared to care for patients at the scene of an accident and while transporting patients by ambulance to the hospital. The EMT-Basic also has the skills to assess a patient's condition and manage respiratory, cardiac, trauma emergencies, medical emergencies, pediatric and obstetric emergencies.   The program is certified as a training entity with the Missouri Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (BEMS) and as a Training Center with the Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI).  Gateway's Emergency Medical Technician -Basic (EMT-B) course also provides training in First Aid and CPR.

     

    “For us, this partnership is a perfect example of what can happen when public, private and corporate entities come together to benefit one of our community’s greatest resources, our youth,” said Kevin Walker, ITEF board member. “Together we are bridging the digital divide and providing mobile learning opportunities to our deserving and hard-working students.”

     

    Yesterday, during a mock drill highlighting the benefits of the grant, students utilized portable EKG software, took vital signs, assessed a patient, and created medical reports.

     

    “Mobile broadband is an integral part of modern learning and a necessary educational resource for students.  We are honored to provide the EMT students with real world technology so that they can complete their assignments on time, whether at school, in the field, or at home,” said Paul McCarthy, Director of Spectrum Development at Clearwire.

     

    This is not the first donation by CLEAR and ITEF. In 2011, the District received a grant valued at more than $20,000.00 in support of college-bound students enrolled in the Saturday Scholars program sponsored by the University of Missouri’s School of Medicine and by the Washington University’s School of Medicine; the St. Louis University Partnership program at Clyde C. Miller Career Academy; and the Ranken Dual Enrollment program at Ranken Technical College.

     

    For more information, please contact the Office of Public Information (314) 393-0572.

     

    ###