A Sedona resident received a surprise in the mail after he recently renewed his emergency medical technician certification.

“I received a certificate for achieving 20 consecutive years as a nationally registered EMT from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians,” said Gary Jordan, a recent resident of Sedona. “I just renewed my certification in March. I guess somebody keeps track. It must mean something to the registry.”

The national registry was founded in 1970 to establish uniform standards for training and examination of people who are active in the delivery of emergency medical service.

Jordan first received his EMT certification in January 1992. He also attended additional education courses to advance his knowledge on new lifesaving skills, earning a doctorate degree in safety engineering.

During his 21-year firefighter career, Jordan served the North Bay Fire Control District in Niceville, Fla. He retired Sept. 30, 2011.

For the full story, see the Wednesday, Oct. 24, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.