A group of 11 students recently completed EMR training at North Shore Health. All photos by Brittany North

By Brittany North - Boreal Community Media - December 19, 2025

An Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) course recently concluded at North Shore Health in Grand Marais, with 11 students completing the training under Cook County EMS Director Karla Pankow.

Students traveled from across Cook County and neighboring areas to attend, including participants from Grand Portage, Hovland, Lutsen, Tofte, Silver Bay, and the Gunflint Trail, bringing together responders from a wide geographic range.

Pankow said the final turnout exceeded expectations. “Eleven was a great group,” she said. “It was fantastic, and just to see the broad expanse of where people came from — we almost represented every responder group within Cook County and beyond.”

The EMR course consists of 44 hours of training focused on identifying and managing life-threatening conditions during the first minutes of an emergency. EMRs are often the first to arrive on scene in rural areas, sometimes well before an ambulance. Their role is to provide immediate care, stabilize patients, and support EMTs and paramedics once they arrive.

“It’s enough of a foundation that it puts people out there in their communities and gets patients prepared for the next step when North Shore EMS arrives,” Pankow said.

Participants entered the course with a mix of experience levels, ranging from individuals new to emergency response to those with prior training. Pankow said the balance contributed to strong group dynamics and engagement throughout the long class sessions.

“I thought the camaraderie and the willingness to help out and get involved was really good,” she said. “There’s greater energy in numbers, and having 11 people to bounce off experiences and questions was really helpful.”

Rural response challenges were a consistent theme during the training. Long transport times, varied terrain, and limited resources mean responders must be adaptable and prepared for situations that do not go according to plan.

Pankow said flexibility is essential. “EMS is about plan A, B, C, D,” she said. “It usually doesn’t work out how you plan it to be.”

For many students, the training reinforced the importance of local response. Rob Stientjes, a first responder and firefighter with the Hovland Volunteer Fire Department, said the course addressed the realities of living and responding in a remote area.

“We live in a remote area, and your neighbors are going to be your first line of defense, so we need to be ready to help each other,” Stientjes said. “This class gives us first response training to help until the ambulance arrives.”

Another student, Natalie Irvin, completed the course just as she turned 16 on the final exam day. Pankow said eligibility was confirmed with the Minnesota Office of EMS, which governs EMS education and certification. While age-related restrictions still apply for employment and driving, Natalie met the requirements to participate and completed the course successfully.

Natalie shared that her father is still a first responder with the Hovland Volunteer Fire Department, that her mother served as well before she passed, and that she wears her mother’s vintage Hovland Volunteer Fire Department hoodie with pride.

“I was really impressed with Natalie,” Pankow said. “She had wonderful questions, was involved, paid attention, and handled herself with a lot of grace.”

The course was taught entirely in person. Pankow said hands-on instruction remains especially important in emergency medical training.

“Patient care is not online,” she said. “You need to be able to do the skills and build that confidence in person.”

With the completion of this course, 11 additional trained responders are now available across the region, strengthening emergency response in an area where help often depends on familiar faces arriving first.

Interest in future EMR and EMT courses continues. Scheduling is based on community interest, instructor availability, and coordination with sponsoring response services. Some participants attend with the support of a local department, while others complete training independently. 

If you are interested in related future EMS educational offerings, please email Karla Pankow  [email protected]