Richard Kernes is the Director of Emergency Management Training Associates (EMTA). Retired from the Oklahoma City Fire Department after over 25 years of service, he has been an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) since 1991. While with the OCFD he attained the rank of Major, served as the Hazardous Materials Response Team officer on his shift for a number of years and was one of the first responders to the Murrah Building bombing.

Never wanting a “desk job”, Richard continued working the 24-hour shifts, living in the firehouse and responding to emergencies. He was a member of the Technical Rescue and Underwater Rescue/Recovery teams, and functioned as a departmental Emergency Medical Services Instructor, the District Exposure Control Officer and Protective Clothing Committee Coordinator.

While off duty, he taught EMT classes at Oklahoma State University in Oklahoma City, worked with Francis Tuttle Technology Center providing Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance training for local businesses and, through EMTA, offered first aid, CPR and emergency response training for the people of Oklahoma.

In 1995, he formed a strategic alliance between EMTA and the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program at the University of Oklahoma Children’s Hospital to promote and enhance emergency preparedness for the childcare community.

In addition to overseeing day-to-day operations of EMTA, Richard is serving as the Oklahoma EMS for Children Special Projects Coordinator, assisting with training, development and delivery for medical professionals across the State. He is also the lead contact for the Pediatric Disaster Preparedness training which is being presented for healthcare professionals; city and county emergency planners; school and childcare professionals; and families. These courses are being offered to help people be prepared to handle natural or man-made disasters involving children, regardless of their age or disability.

Now that he’s retired from the fire service, he is able to more frequently assist EMS for Children and devotes himself full-time to providing emergency response and safety training.