Welcome to USCG EMS School
Arrival and Departure
About the schools
What to bring to school
Before you get here
Communications
Top ten pieces of advice from former students
Arrival and Departure
The Training Center (TRACEN) Petaluma website contains complete information for reporting to the TRACEN by air, bus or automobile. If you are unable to connect to the website, contact the School staff for assistance. Please review those directions and the Welcome Aboard Pamphlet carefully in addition to these important details. Note: Do not make departure plans prior to 1600 on the final Friday.
Transportation from the bus stop to the TRACEN is limited to commercial taxi or the TRACEN's liberty van. Please note the TRACEN's recommendation to use commercial taxi service, a 20 minute drive from the Airport Express stop to the Training Center, because of the limited liberty van schedule. Current one-way taxi fares are approximately $30. The Airport Express bus driver can call ahead for a taxi if you wish to avoid waiting once you arrive in Petaluma. Total travel time from the San Francisco airport to TRACEN Petaluma is approximately two hours. Check-in is at Horsley Hall.
If you experience travel delays enroute and need to leave a message for the School staff, you can leave a message with the School Chief 707-765-7045. You can also leave a message with the Training Center's police department, 24 hours daily, at 707-765-7215.
There are limited dining services for students arriving after the TRACEN galley closes. A convenience store offers basic grocery items and is open daily from 0900 to 2100. Pizzas, sandwiches and finger foods are available at the Consolidated Club Monday - Friday from 1730 to 2200. Subway is open Mon-Thur 0900-1930, Fri 0900-1900, and Sat 1000-1900.
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About the schools
EMT Basic is 3 weeks long, and is comprised of 110 hours of coursework required by the DOT and National Registry of EMT’s for certification and registration. EMT Recert is a 1 week course, 24 hours being required by DOT and NREMT, plus 12 hours of continuing education. First Responder is a 1 week DOT First Responder course.
All class starts Monday morning at 0700 in the EMT classroom, Bldg. 122, directly up the hill from the Command Building (across the street from the flagpole). We recommend that you locate the classroom upon your arrival. Your TAD orders have assigned you to the EMS School for one or three weeks. It is extremely important that you dedicate yourself to this school during that time. Poor performance during training may result in your failure to complete the course.
What to Bring to School
Uniform of the day is ODU with boots. Unit specific clothing such as flight jackets, float coats, coveralls, foul weather jackets, and fleece liners without the overshell are not authorized at this training command. Appropriate gym gear is required for lab practice (female personnel are required to have a sports bra). A padlock is required in the BEQ; we also recommend you bring towels and hangers since the BEQ does not issue these items. Weather in Petaluma fluctuates dramatically, so prepare accordingly with both uniform and civilian clothing. Other items that you may want to bring include a camera, personal alarm clock or radio, sweater or jacket, rainjacket, personal athletic clothing, and a backpack. The climate is moderate but mornings and evenings can be cool because of the Training Center's proximity to the Pacific Ocean.
Before You Get Here
To become better prepared to succeed as an EMT student, use the memorization sheets as provided on this website. Memorize these items verbatim before arrival. We will explain what each of the items means during class, but you will need to get these memorized, backwards and forwards. Granted, there are things on these sheets that you may not understand yet but you will. The key to getting patient assessment dialed in is having the skill sheet memorized. If interested, give HS1 Thomas Lavey a call and he will explain what we are talking about. (707) 765-7499
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Communications
Your mail should be addressed to:
(Your Name)
c/o USCG EMS Schools
USCG Training Center
599 Tomales Road
Petaluma, CA 94952-5000
Telephone messages may be left with the School Chief at (707) 765-7045 or with any EMS Instructor. Facsimiles may be sent to (707) 765-7495. The Training Center does not have DSN capabilities.
Top ten pieces of advice from former students
10. Find a CG EMT and ask them what to expect and how to prepare.
9. Start studying today. Unfortunately, we cannot mail out textbooks; you may find materials from any local EMT’s in your area, and many online resources. On average, students spend 3-5 hours after class covering new material and preparing for upcoming tests. Currently we are using Emergency Care 11th Edition..
8. Memorize the skill sheets, particularly trauma and medical assessments. It will save you time and cut down on the stress level.
7. Visit our school CG-Website. This is a great starting point for the new and old pre-hospital provider.
6. Study CPR 2005 Guidelines. You will be tested on your first day in Basic Life Support with a written test the next day. We have disenrolled students in the past due to poor performance on the first day!
5. Ensure that you are physically and mentally prepared for the long days and nights ahead.
4. Basic anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology are the foundations on which the rest of the training will build. Get a firm grasp of these prior to the course.
3. Arrive on Saturday before school. This allows you to check in, get a room, locate the classroom, and become accustomed to the time change.
2. Call the EMT School or the school chief ASTC Carter if you have any questions.
1. THIS SCHOOL IS NOT EASY. This is not a “vacation” C-School; in fact, students commonly refer to this as the hardest C-School they have attended (basically a full semester of college-level education compressed into 3 weeks). The information will not be fed to you. You will have to work hard for these three weeks. This course holds a consistent waiting list of 80 students or more. If being an EMT is not your desire, please ask your command to send another in your place or contact headquarters (HS1 Carson, Andre 202-475-5167) and allow another Coast Guard member to take your seat.