Firefighters at Orem’s Station 33 extract an accident victim from a car crash using the Jaws of Life. Onlookers from the kingdom of Morocco watch with interest while taking notes and asking questions about the rescue and emergency medical care provided to the mannequin patient trapped inside. 

The simulated scenario was part of an exercise choreographed through a partnership between Utah Valley University (UVU), the Utah National Guard, and the kingdom of Morocco. In a week-long visit, the delegation learned how the U.S. provides emergency medical technician (EMT) instruction, care in the field, and patient transfer and care from EMTs to hospital emergency centers. The mock patient was transported by ambulance to Timpanogos Regional Medical Center in Orem, where the Moroccan delegation received further training.

“They want to start at a very basic level, enhance what they already have, and then they are going to train EMTs,” said Steve Allred, a professor in UVU’s Emergency Care program. “The ultimate desire for many is to reach the level of paramedic and critical care transport, and that is something that UVU does well.”

The groundwork for the visit was laid 20 years ago through the National Guard’s State Partnership Program, which includes partnerships with 95 nations around the globe. Utah was assigned the kingdom of Morocco. Local National Guard troops do 15-30 engagements in the African nation every year.

“We have done military-to-military training. This is the first training with a civilian entity in the Moroccan civil protectorate,” said First Lieutenant Rob Matheny from the Utah National Guard. “This is just a monumental occasion for us because it’s the first time we in the National Guard have engaged with a civilian entity, versus the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces.”

UVU was selected as a partner because of its reputation as the state leader in training emergency medical service teams. “UVU is taking the lead with training and showing them equipment and procedures. The Utah National Guard couldn’t do it without their help,” said Matheny.

Moroccan emergency healthcare is based on the French system and utilizes emergency medical responders (EMRs). EMRs are trained to provide immediate lifesaving care. In the U.S., they hold jobs such as lifeguards, daycare providers, and law enforcement. They have far less healthcare training than EMTs and paramedics.

“We are now emergency medical responders, so we want to improve it to become emergency medical technicians. It’s a little more advanced, so it needs training, it needs equipment, but the most important is the structure of how it works,” said Kamal Azzaoui, commander of the Morocco Civil Protection. “The EMS system is structured. So, we are here to see how it works, and we will try to coordinate with the USA to apply it in Morocco.”

Grady Wroblewski, captain of Orem Fire Department’s Station 33, was among UVU’s first graduating class of EMT firefighters decades ago. He led the training exercise for the Morocco delegation.  “Just being able to teach and let other people try to understand and provide the level of service we provide over here is pretty great,” he said.

Allred said UVU’s relationship with the kingdom of Morocco will leave a lasting impact through global service and engagement.

“The desire to serve is affecting a country and has the potential for a significant impact. As you look at Morocco as a leader in Africa, this has the potential to be so far-reaching, and the legacy from UVU would be everlasting.”

While in Utah, the Moroccan delegation visited UVU’s EMT training classes and toured other local fire departments and dispatch centers, as well as the Utah National Guard facility.