ESCANABA – Eight students recently graduated from the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) class administered through Bay College’s workforce. The course was held from September 3 to November 1, 2025, at the Escanaba Campus.

Emergency medical responders, known as medical first responders in Michigan, have been around for many years. The purpose of MFRs is to respond and provide vital, lifesaving care to people experiencing a medical or traumatic emergency.

The class graduates can now take the licensing test. An EMR license enables emergency responders for local fire departments and emergency agencies to respond to medical emergencies, providing critical patient care in the first few minutes of an emergency.

The course was instructed by Amy Anderson, a former program director and full-time instructor at Bay College.

Anderson began the Bay College EMT/Paramedic program at its inception in 2015, recognizing the need for all levels of care in Emergency Medical Services. She also enjoyed a career as a Paramedic for over 30 years, retiring from Rampart Ambulance.

The recent EMR class included a diverse group of students with various goals. Some students will be primarily responding in their community to provide care until more advanced care can arrive. Other students are firefighters or members of other agencies, such as Search and Rescue and Rescue Task Force.