LEWISTON — United Ambulance Service celebrated the grand opening of its new Education Training Center on Nov. 18.

The new facility, located at 338 East Ave., houses two large classrooms and a computerized simulation lab. The lab is equipped with adult, child and infant manikins who have automated functions that bring a higher level of realism when teaching patient assessment skills.

The manikins were obtained through a private grant and can be used in the classroom or the back of an ambulance.

“We are very excited about the opening of our new center,” said Liz Delano, education manager for United. “Our hope is to promote regular education courses for allied health professionals and community members.”

Some of the courses taught at United include American Heart Association CPR, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Pre-Hospital Pediatric Provider Programs, Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support and other continuing education programs for EMS providers as well as other health care fields.

Over the next nine months United will continue to expand the arsenal of courses. United’s first Paramedic Program is slated to begin in September of 2011. It is a “bridge course” for EMT-Intermediates to advance to the Paramedic level.

United Ambulance is Maine’s only nationally accredited ground ambulance service. As the education program continues to develop, United is working on education training center accreditation through Maine Emergency Medical Services. The designation would allow United to work independently on managing education programs rather then contracting with other organizations to obtain approvals for education programs.

For more information, visit www.unitedambulance.com/education or call 784-8214.