New Lenox Fire Protection District Firefighters Graduate as Paramedics

(MAY 31, 2013) – Last week two firefighters from the New Lenox Fire Protection District earned their paramedic degree.

Firefighter/Paramedic Joe Drobney graduated from the Silver Cross Hospital paramedic program and Firefighter/Paramedic Tony Palkovitz graduated from the paramedic program through Ingalls Hospital and South Suburban College. Both Drobney and Palkovitz have been taking paramedic classes to increase their Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) knowledge and better serve the New Lenox community.

Paramedic programs prepare individuals to provide advanced life support in and out of hospital settings to critically ill and injured persons. As paramedics, Drobney and Palkovitz are able to use more advanced airway management devices to support breathing than they could as EMT’s. They have been trained in the use of multiple medications, as well as injections, intravenous infusions, needle thoracostomy, cricothyroidotomy, and intraosseus infusions.