Zebulon — The Hopkins Rural Fire Department was named an EMT-level service department at a ceremony at the station Thursday, July 10.

Dr. Brent Myers, director of Wake County Emergency Medical Services, presented the department with an award recognizing the department for increasing its level of emergency care.

Wake County fire departments serve as First Responders, playing an intricate role in partnership with the Wake County EMS System.

Trained for such response through the county, fire departments have the option of increasing their functional level to Emergency Medical Technician.

To meet the EMT standard, departments must have a minimum of one Emergency Medical Technician per first-call, first-duty truck. The Hopkins department typically has two EMTs on-board for each call.

The department currently has seven EMTs, and four more individuals schooling to become EMT certified. Hopkins Lt. Tommy Atkinson explained the EMT standing certifies the responders to administer additional forms of medication, in many cases a priceless service to offer in rural areas like those found on the outskirts of Zebulon.

“Sometimes we have a long response time, and the county’s trying to cut response time on far out departments like this one,” Atkinson said. “By going EMT, there’s a lot more we can treat for to stabilize the patient while EMS is on the way.

Beyond the basic first response care, such as bandaging, splinting, CPR and breathing care, the responders can now give basic, lifesaving medications like aspirin for heart attacks and Albuterol, a medication used to treat asthma attacks.

“We applaud Hopkins Fire Department for taking the initiative to raise their level of service in caring for the people of their community,” Myers said in a press release. “They understand the Wake County EMS System as a team approach to excellent emergency medical care and the vital role they play. Citizens living in the Hopkins community should be very proud of their fire department.”