NEMCC hosts hands-on EMT Training with Pafford Air One
BOONEVILLE, Miss. -- (03/30/2026) — Students in Northeast Mississippi Community College's Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic Program recently received an up-close look at real-world emergency response through a hands-on training experience coordinated by the college's Office of Continuing Education in partnership with Pafford Medical Services.
Air One, Pafford's emergency air flight helicopter, landed on the Booneville campus to give class members an interactive lesson in air ambulance operations.
Students learned how to properly set up a landing zone, identify potential hazards such as gravel and power lines, and ensure safe, level ground for landing.
During the session, flight crew members shared insights about working in the confined space of an air ambulance and discussed practical flight considerations, such as patient weight limits and the helicopter's service range.
Medical centers across the Mid-South typically fall within Air One's 100-mile operational radius, while larger medical facilities sit near the outer limits of the aircraft's reach.
Students got a chance to get firsthand experience by loading each other onto Air One's stretcher and loading it into the air ambulance itself.
Class members also had the opportunity to explore the aircraft and engage in discussions about aviation performance.
Crew members fielded questions about flight speeds under various conditions and recounted their career paths, with some sharing experiences from their military backgrounds.
Members of the flight team encouraged students to remain curious and committed to continuous learning as they prepare for future roles in emergency medical services.
For more information about the EMT Basic program at Northeast, contact the Office of Continuing Education at continuinged@nemcc.edu.
Media Attachments
Members of Northeast Mississippi Community College’s EMT Basic class participate in hands-on training with Pafford Medical Services’ Air One air ambulance during a recent on-campus session. Students practiced setting up landing zones, loading patients and learning real-world emergency response techniques as part of the college’s continuing education program.
Jared Reed-Wood, CFRN, CCRN, a certified flight nurse with Pafford Medical Services, speaks with Northeast Mississippi Community College EMT Basic students during a recent hands-on training session on campus. Reed-Wood discussed the critical steps involved in air ambulance transport, including patient stabilization, in-flight safety and medical considerations during transport aboard Air One.
Chris Bowling, FP-C, NRP, a certified flight paramedic with Pafford Medical Services, speaks with Northeast Mississippi Community College EMT Basic students during a recent on-campus training session. Bowling explained Air One’s operations, patient transport procedures and flight safety guidelines, emphasizing the role first responders play in establishing secure landing zones and maintaining safe conditions around the aircraft.
Bill Finch, a pilot with Pafford Medical Services, speaks with a Northeast Mississippi Community College EMT Basic student during a recent hands-on training session on campus. Finch shared insights on his aviation background, aircraft controls and Air One’s speed and flight range while giving students a closer look at the air ambulance’s layout and operations.