Carefree Kiwanis Club Supports PVCC EMT/Paramedic Program with Transformational Donation
Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) is proud to announce a generous donation from the Carefree Kiwanis Club Benefit Foundation, significantly enhancing training opportunities for students in the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Paramedic programs.
The donation will fund state-of-the-art birthing and neonatal simulation equipment, enabling PVCC to build a comprehensive training event that meets the requirements of both the Arizona Department of Health Services and national accreditation standards. It is the second contribution from the foundation, which generously contributed to PVCC’s fire science program in 2024, helping to fund critical equipment and resources necessary for the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) assessment.
“This investment will provide students with access to realistic, hands-on simulations that mirror the challenges of labor, delivery, and newborn care; critical experiences for professionals entering emergency medical fields,” said EMT Program Director Kevin Taussig. “Using a combination of high-fidelity mannequins and virtual environments, students will be able to practice managing both routine and high-risk obstetric and neonatal emergencies in a safe, controlled setting.”
“Partnerships like this help us elevate the quality of training we offer to our students,” said Mario Marquez, who works in PVCC’s Office of Strategic Partnerships. “The Carefree Kiwanis Club’s support ensures that our EMT and Paramedic graduates are better prepared, more confident, and ready to serve communities across Arizona, including the Carefree and Cave Creek areas.”
Cutting-Edge Tools for Realistic Training
PVCC has attained several advanced training tools with this donation, including a Birthing Manikin Life Assist, Neonatal Manikin Life Assist, Full-Term Infant Life Assist, and OB Replacement Kits Life Assist.
The birthing simulator, worn by a trained standardized patient, creates exceptionally realistic normal and complex birthing scenarios. The standardized patient can manually control and adjust the progression of labor, enabling instructors to present a wide range of situations medical professionals may encounter.
The neonatal manikin provides essential hands-on practice in newborn resuscitation and post-delivery care, including airway management, intubation, ventilation, chest tube placement, and CPR. The full-term infant models and OB replacement kits allow students to train on anatomically accurate equipment, featuring realistic components such as an infant, placenta, umbilical cords, vulva replacements, and simulated blood, critical for mastering emergency childbirth procedures.
Impact on Student Preparedness and Community Care
Simulation-based training has become a cornerstone of modern obstetrics and emergency medical education. These tools offer a host of benefits, including:
- Practicing high-risk and low-frequency obstetric emergencies
- Strengthening technical and procedural skills
- Enhancing communication and teamwork
- Improving clinical decision-making
- Building confidence before students encounter real patients
Although no children participate in these simulations, the skills learned will ultimately save children’s lives. By practicing realistic scenarios repeatedly, students gain the proficiency required to handle emergencies with accuracy and composure.
“This proactive approach is essential,” said Marquez. “The better prepared our students are in these controlled environments, the more capable they are when real emergencies occur.”
Serving Local Communities Now and Into the Future
PVCC’s EMT and Paramedic programs serve hundreds of students from surrounding zip codes each year, with graduates going on to work in fire departments, hospitals, and EMS agencies across Arizona including the Carefree and Cave Creek communities. As the closest community college to the Carefree Kiwanis Club, PVCC is deeply grateful for their ongoing support and commitment to future healthcare professionals.
This donation will play a vital role in helping PVCC students confidently step into the workforce, equipped with the skills to protect and care for Arizona families. The college looks forward to continuing its partnership with the Carefree Kiwanis Club Benefit Foundation to advance educational excellence and community well-being.
