KTIV.com | By Zach Tecklenburg | May 10, 2010

AKRON, Iowa (KTIV) -- In small towns, services like emergency response are often limited. That's why it's important for volunteers to step up and take on duties in the fire department, or as EMTs.

Rounding up people to respond is a challenge in rural towns, but in Akron, Iowa, they're looking to teenagers to be first on the scene. Monday night, they received their EMS certification.

"We have a problem with volunteerism in the community and this is a way to maybe get some more volunteers," says program instructor John Jorgensen.

Monday night, six students from Akron-Westfield High School received their certificates for completing the EMS program through WIT.

"We're the first responders, so we're the first medically trained professionals on the scene," says student Alexander Waterbury.

Typically, it's a job handled by someone a little older. The Akron area had just 13 volunteers manning the ambulance; now the number's up to 19.

Jorgensen says, "This teaches kids a little bit of community responsibility as well as help fulfill a need in the community."

The need for medical volunteers is especially great during the day, when most adults are at work. For these six, an emergency page turns into an excused absence.

"The first time I went on a call it was really fun and exciting. I was in music class and I just jumped up and ran out of the room," says student Christina Clary.

Waterbury says, "It actually makes me feel important, like not just some kid. I can actually do something and help people."

And it could be a permanent fix to a longtime problem.

"If we continue to do this year after year, there'd be a lot of students that would definitely do it," says student Cody Reed.

Students will have the opportunity again next year. The program's been such a success the district has decided to offer the semester-long course next spring.