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Erie County EMS provides Certified First Responder (CFR) courses which allows students who successfully complete the course to obtain a NYS CFR certification. A CFR is one of the four prehospital emergency medical certifications in NYS, and it is designed for non-transporting first responders. This certification does not allow you to transport a patient on an ambulance alone and typically does not result in employment locally. Typically, this course is for volunteer firefighters. CFRs can provide basic first aid such as bleeding control techniques, CPR, basic airway management techniques, etc. Read more below to learn about our CFR program and how to sign up.

Certified First Responder (CFR) Courses

Status Course Course # Location Lead Instructor(s) Days Dates Times Schedule Register
In session CFR

234131-Original

234232-Recert

 Main-Transit Fire Department 
6777 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221		 Trzepacz

Tues/Thurs

Sat (2)

 9/12/24-11/21/24

Tues/Thurs: 6:00PM-10:00PM

Sat: 7:30AM-4:00PM

 Main-Transit Fire Department schedule Register for courses at Main-Transit Fire Department

Certified First Responder (CFR) Program Information 

Functional Job Description of a CFR, Career Outlook, and Occupational Risks

Qualifications:

  • Complete the Application for Emergency Medical Services Certification (DOH-65), including affirmation regarding criminal convictions 
  • Successfully complete an approved New York State CFR course 
  • Achieve a passing score on the practical and written certification examinations
  • Must be at least 16 years of age prior to the last day of the month in which they are scheduled to take the written certification examination
  • Knowledge and Skills required show need for high school or equivalent education
  • Ability to communicate effectively via telephone and radio equipment
  • Ability to lift, carry and balance up to 125 pounds (250 pounds with assistance)
  • Ability to interpret oral, written and diagnostic form instructions
  • Ability to use good judgement and remain calm in high stress situations
  • Ability to be unaffected by loud noises and flashing lights
  • Ability to function efficiently without interruption throughout an entire work shift
  • Ability to calculate weight and volume ratios
  • Ability to read English language, manuals and road maps
  • Ability to accurately discern street signs and addresses
  • Ability to interview patients, patient family members and bystanders
  • Ability to document, in writing, all relevant information in prescribed format in light of legal ramifications of such
  • Ability to converse, in English, with coworkers and hospital staff with regard to the status of the patient
  • Possesses good manual dexterity with ability to perform all tasks related to the highest quality patient care
  • Ability to bend, stoop and crawl on uneven terrain
  • Ability to withstand varied environmental conditions such as extreme heat, cold and moisture
  • Ability to work in low light situations and confined spaces
  • Ability to work with other providers to make appropriate patient care decisions

Competency Areas:

  • Patient Assessment 
  • Use of Basic Life Support Equipment within the scope of practice for the CFR
  • Ability to perform Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  • Control Bleeding
  • Provide non-invasive treatment for hypoperfusion
  • Manage environmental emergencies 
  • Provide initial care in medical and trauma emergencies, and emergency childbirth

Description of Tasks:

  • Responds to calls when dispatched. Reads maps, may drive emergency response vehicle to emergency site using most expeditious route permitted by weather and road conditions. Observes all traffic ordinances and regulations. 
  • Uses appropriate body substance isolation procedures. Assesses the safety of the scene, gains access to the patient, assesses extent of injury or illness. Communicates with dispatcher requesting additional assistance or services as necessary.  Determines nature of illness or injury. Visually inspects for medical identification emblems to aid in care (medical bracelet, charm, etc.) Uses prescribed techniques and equipment to provide patient care. Provides additional emergency care following established protocols. Assess and monitor vital signs and general appearance of patient for change. Makes determination regarding patient status and priority for emergency care using established criteria. Reassures patient, family members and bystanders. Avoids mishandling patient and undue haste. Reports verbally and in writing, information gathered about patient’s emergency and care rendered to EMT or AEMT in charge of ambulance crew on scene. Assists with lifting, carrying and properly loading patient into the ambulance.
  • Complies with regulations in handling deceased, notifies authorities and arranges for protection of property and evidence at scene.
  • Replaces supplies, properly disposes of medical waste. Properly cleans contaminated equipment according to established guidelines. Checks all equipment for future readiness. Maintains ambulance in operable condition. Ensures cleanliness and organization of ambulance, its equipment and supplies. Determines vehicle readiness by checking operator maintainable fluid, fuel and air pressure levels. Maintains familiarity with all specialized equipment

Source: NYS DOH Policy 00-09: Functional Position Description Certified First Responder

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Occupational Risks:

Provision of emergency medical services poses inherent occupational risks for EMS responders. Risks include the following.

  • Violence/assaults
  • Verbal threats/aggression
  • Motor vehicle crashes
  • Infectious disease
  • Lifting injuries
  • Sprains and strains
  • Psychological trauma 
  • Hazardous chemical exposure
  • Hyper/hypothermia

As a student in the program, you may be exposed to all the risks above.

Application & Admission Policy

Complete the Erie County Emergency Medical Services Training Course Application

  • It is not necessary to call the EMS Office to verify enrollment. You will be contacted prior to the start of class if the course has been filled and/or cancelled.
  • Your instructor or ECEMS administrative staff will contact you at least 2 weeks before the start of class by email with further instructions.
  • Students must be 16 years old by the last day of the month of the end of course date.
  • Please submit your application as soon as possible. Courses that reach full enrollment prior to the deadline will be closed.
  • If you have any questions, please call the EMS office at (716) 681-6070

Tuition, Withdrawal, and Refund Schedule

  • Tuition for the CFR Original course is $290.00 and the CFR Refresher course is $165.00.
  • There is no tuition fee for students who are a member of an EMS Agency with a valid NYS Health Department Agency Code. A NYS DOH Verification of Membership in a NYS EMS Agency form (DOH-3312) would need to be submitted. 
  • Tuition only covers the enrollment for the course.
  • Accepted forms of payment include checks and money orders. Checks and money orders should be made out to the “Erie County DOH EMS” and mailed or hand delivered to the EMS office.
  • Students can withdraw from the course at any time. Withdrawals must be made in writing to the Lead Instructor. Failure to notify the Lead Instructor formally in writing will result in the student failing the course instead of withdrawing. Tuition will be refunded after withdrawing based off the following schedule.
Prior to the 1st Session S1st Week 2nd Week 3rd Week 4th Week
Full Refund 75% 50% 25% No Refund

Students must be aware that reimbursement may take up to 180 days to be returned.

Required Supplies & Additional Fees/Expenses

  • Students are responsible for purchasing all the following:
    • Course textbook, physical copy or eBook (Pricing varies)
    • CPR certification card ($10)
    • PSI Testing Center fee for NYS written certification exam ($31)
    • Blood pressure cuff & Stethoscope (Pricing varies depending on where you purchase it from)
    • 1 inch binder recommended for printed notes
    • Loose leaf paper or notebook for note taking

Course Goal and Successful Completion Criteria

The EMS training program’s goal is to produce EMT providers who are able to work in a professional setting with other professionals performing quality emergency medical care.

Students will successfully complete the course and become eligible to sit for the NYS CFR Certification Exam after completing the following:

  • Achieve an overall cumulative course grade of at least 80%. 
  • Attend every class session and/or complete all approved make up sessions by the last course session.
  • Obtain an AHA BLS Provider CPR Certification or equivalent.
  • Obtain an IS-100.C: Introduction to the Incident Command System, IS-100 certification
  • Obtain an IS-700.B: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System, IS-700 certification
  • Obtain a Hazardous Materials Awareness Level certification

After successfully completing the course, students will take a NYS CFR certification exam which contains a skills test and a written examination. Students will need to pass each skill station and obtain a score over 70% on the written examination to become a NYS certified CFR.

Prerequisites

Students must complete the following courses and forms prior to the start of the first class. All course certificates and forms can be submitted to the Lead Instructor via email or ECEMS Program Staff prior to the start of the first day of class. All forms and certificates should be saved or scanned as a PDF. Please do not submit screenshots.

Refresher Course

  • Students can take a Refresher course only if they are currently certified as a NYS EMS provider, were previously certified as a NYS EMS provider, or if they have previously successfully completed the course but failed the NYS certification exam. Please contact us if you have any questions as to whether you qualify for a Refresher course.
  • CFR Refresher students will take a written exam and practical skills examination within the first week of the course as indicated on the course schedule. Based off the results of this examination, a learning contract will be created which will state what class sessions are mandatory for the student to attend.
  • Students must sign and follow the learning contract in order to successfully complete the course.
  • Students are invited to attend all course sessions, including sessions that are not mandatory per their individualized learning contract. It is recommended that the student inform their instructor what optional class sessions they plan to attend.

American with Disabilities Act

  • The Americans with Disabilities Act makes it possible for students with verifiable disabilities to request an accommodation for the New York State Certification Examinations with proper documentation of their disability. All students will be provided with Bureau of EMS Policy Statement 22-03, which contains instructions regarding how the student must proceed with their request for accommodations. Accommodation requests for the NYS Certification Examination must be made no later than eight (8) weeks prior to the end of the course date. Students must make an accommodation request to NYS.  It is the responsibility of the student, not the instructor, to make the request.
  • The NYS Bureau of EMS does not allow testing accommodations for the NYS Psychomotor Skills Examination but will consider the use of certain aids by candidates, which they would be responsible to provide, and reasonably be able to bring to the patient’s side in actual practice. The only types of aids which are permitted are those which do not alter the functions of the CFR. For example, the use of prescription or reading glasses, hearing aids, and personal stethoscopes have been permitted since they serve as an aid to the provider, while Braille sphygmomanometer would not be permitted since sight is considered an essential function of the certified EMS provider. 
  • All students enrolled in the CFR course will be provided with a copy of the Functional Position Description for an CFR.  Students will be given time to review this and have all their questions answered. Students must be able to satisfy all the qualifications listed in the description regarding any disabilities.
  • ECEMS, nor its staff, discusses or screens for disabilities, or considers addressing any potential disabilities prior to a student’s admission into the course or during the course.
  • If a student would like to discuss a disability that may affect his/her performance during the educational portions of a course (classroom, clinical and/or field rotations, laboratory sessions, etc.) the student should speak privately to the Lead Instructor and/or contact the Course Sponsor Administrator. All students must successfully complete all aspects of all course requirements as outlined elsewhere in this documentation in order to proceed to the Psychomotor Skills Examination and then to the NYS Written Certification Examination. ECEMS will provide accommodations within its ability providing it does not create an unreasonable financial hardship. All efforts will be made to accommodate any disabilities, including the involvement of local resources and organizations to assist with providing accommodations.

Grading, Testing, and Retesting Policy

Grading & Testing:

Students must have an overall cumulative course grade of at least 80%. Students with failing averages at mid-term will be encouraged to drop the course or to complete extra assignments. The course grade for each student will be determined through the following assessment categories using the corresponding weighted percentages.

Category Weight
Module Exam 30%
Final Exam/ Midterm Exam 20%
Quizzes/Practical Skills Testing 15%
Homework Assignments/ Projects 25%
Behavioral/Affective Score 10%
  • Module Exam: Students will take a comprehensive exam at the end of every unit. Any student who fails (<65%) a unit exam will be permitted one retest by the end of the next class session or on a date determined by the Lead Instructor. 
  • Final Exam/Midterm: Students will take a Midterm exam roughly halfway through the course that will assess all content covered up to that point. They will take a Final exam at the end of the course that will cover all content in the course. There is no retesting for the Midterm or the Final exam. 
  • Quizzes: Students will take quizzes throughout the unit. Any student who fails (<65%) a quiz may be permitted one retest by the end of the next class session or on a date determined by the Lead Instructor. 
  • Practical Skills Testing: Students must pass all practical skill examinations in order to stay in the course. Students will be allowed two retests of each individual skill station. Each skill will be graded using a rubric and Pass/Fail criteria. The score obtained during the evaluation will be used to calculate the grade for that category. Students will have ample time to practice all skills before any formal assessment.
  • Homework Assignments/Projects: Students will be assigned homework assignments weekly or after each session throughout the course to strengthen their understanding of the content covered. It is expected that all assignments will be completed on time. Students may be allowed to redo homework assignments on a case-by-case basis as determined by the Lead Instructor.
  • Behavioral/Affective Score: Students will be awarded 10 points weekly. Any violation to course policies or inappropriate behavior (late to class, homework assignments not completed on time, not following directions during lab, clinical issues, not acting professional, etc.) will result in a deduction of these points as determined by the Lead Instructor.

Grade Appeals: 

Students who wish to appeal a grade should follow these guidelines.

  • Speak with the Lead Instructor first to understand the posted grade.
  • If you are unclear about the posted grade or are dissatisfied with the instructor’s response, then speak with the Sponsor Administrator or designee.
  • The Sponsor Administrator or designee and Lead Instructor will then meet to discuss the issue. The student may be invited to this meeting. This meeting will be the final determination of the grade. Students will receive formal notification in writing about the grade determination and the reasoning.

Attendance Policy

  • Attendance is mandatory for all scheduled class sessions. Attendance will be taken at the beginning and end of class every day and will serve as a written record for the course.
  • You are responsible for signing the attendance sheet at each session. If your signature does not appear, you are considered absent. The EXACT time of your arrival and departure must be legibly printed on the attendance sheet. 
  • Students are expected to attend every session and be ready to start on time. Any student arriving to class less than 30 minutes after the start of class will be marked late. Any student arriving more than 30 minutes, late will be marked absent. Legitimate excuses will be accepted on a case-by-case basis; however, proof may need to be provided.
  • Consistent tardiness will not be tolerated.  After three sessions of tardiness, students will be required to make up all future sessions in which they are late. 
  • It is understood that some emergencies may arise; therefore, all students are expected to attend at least 90% of the scheduled sessions and satisfactorily make up all missed sessions. Failure to attend at least 90% of the scheduled session may result in expulsion from the course. Students are expected to notify the Lead Instructor immediately if they plan on being absent. Written proof may need to be provided to justify the absence.
  • The manner in which the student will make-up missed sessions shall be determined by the course Lead Instructor. Some make-up activities that may be assigned to the student by the Lead Instructor include attending appropriate sessions of another EMS course offered by ECEMS, participation in remedial sessions, or preparation of a written outline. Students that do not fulfill this requirement will be subject to possible expulsion from the course. All make up assignments must be completed before the NYS Practical Skills Exam.
  • Too many absences or late arrivals, can result in a student being unable to successfully complete the program.

Articulation Agreements/College Credit

Empire State University logoEmpire State University
2 Union Avenue 
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 
800-847-3000 
Empire State University website

  • ECEMS is not an accredited higher level of education institution and therefore cannot offer college credit for our courses. However, ECEMS has partnered with Empire State University to make college credit available to our students who successfully complete our courses. 
  • Students who successfully complete the CFR course and obtain a NYS CFR certification are eligible to receive eight 8) college credits from Empire State University. Students shall receive these credits after they matriculate into a SUNY Empire degree program, pay current tuition and fees, and provide a copy of their NYS CFR certification to SUNY Empire as proof that they completed the program. 
  • Students will also receive a waiver of the $50 orientation fee and a one-time $100 Better Together scholarship from SUNY Empire once receiving a partner code from the ECEMS Administrative Staff. 
  • Students are encouraged to contact SUNY Empire Admissions Department or view their degree programs to learn more about this opportunity. 
  • This is an optional benefit to students who complete the program. It is not a mandatory requirement for students to participate in it.

Erie County EMS CFR Program Performance Statistics

Graduation Year 2024 Overall
Total Number of CFR Students Enrolled 10 10
Total Number of CFR Students Attrition (Academic & Non Academic) 2 2
Total Number of CFR Students Graduated 8 8
Total Number of CFR Students Attempted NYS Certification Exam 4 4
Total Number of CFR Students Certified 4 4
NYS CFR Certification Exam Pass Rate 100% 100%
NYS CFR Certification Exam 1st Attempt Pass Rate 75% 75%
CFR Program Student Attrition Rate 20% 20%
CFR Program Student Retention Rate 80% 80%
CFR Program Employer Placement Rate TBD TBD
As of 8/1/2024

Forms, Policies, & Useful Links

Erie County EMS Forms:

NYS EMS Forms & Links:

Textbook:

Treatment Protocols:

Articulation Agreement/College Credit:

Regional EMS Councils/Program Agencies:

Professional Liability Insurance:

Contact

Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) 
Division of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) 
3359 Broadway 
Cheektowaga, NY14227 
Office: (716) 681-6070
Email: ems@erie.gov

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