HSA starts training eight Caymanian EMTs
(CNS): Eight Caymanians with various backgrounds are training to help save lives by becoming emergency medical technicians (EMTs) through the Health Services Authority’s fully funded EMT Training Programme. The trainees were chosen from the 73 applicants who registered during a competitive admission process that included a written exam, a physical assessment, and a panel interview.
“The HSA’s EMT Training Programme is a great opportunity for us to invest locally, providing an avenue for our Caymanians to join the profession of EMS and change lives together as a community,” EMS Manager Stephen Duval said in a press release. He explained that the service demands of the HSA’s EMS system continue to increase with diverse needs. In 2021 EMS responded to over 8,000 911 calls for service compared to 6,714 in 2019.
“Building the capacity to meet the needs of our patients is essential,” he said. “Equipping our people with the necessary skills and knowledge in emergency care through this training will further support the HSA’s plans to expand our EMS services to the eastern districts to significantly improve response time of our ambulance in critical lifesaving situations.”
The trainees are expected to complete the programme in August.
The programme is accredited in the United States by the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE), enabling students to sit for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam. This credentialing allows students greater mobility to progress clinically to the Advanced EMT or Paramedic level.
The programme’s curriculum includes anatomy and physiology, oxygen therapy, basic life support (BLS) management, patient assessments, airway management, pediatric and obstetrical emergencies, trauma assessment, safe handling and moving, and emergency response driving.
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Category: Health, Medical Health
HSA and schools careers officers…what about training students for phlebotomy and other necessary, but less demanding, careers in the broad medical field?
They must be very fit. Lifting heavy weights comes with being an EMT.
Good luck to the students. Hopefully they understand the rigors involved in this profession and had some detailed insight to exactly what they are in for.
There definitely is some “ dead wood” working in the EMS staff and hopefully the newbies don’t get dragged down by current staff. Once through the national registry there going to have the knowledge behind them. The problem is that they won’t get much of an opportunity to experience varying actual emergency situations before they are cut loose and on their own. This is where problems occur and potentially not recognizing when or how to do an intervention happen. Hopefully whatever partnership the HSA has with the US provides these students an opportunity to be mentored in a fast paced setting somewhere where they have a chance to experience a wider array of situations that would better prepare them for their career in EMS.
I applaud the HSA for training locals and putting them through a first rate nationally recognized training course. I only hope no corners are cut and every opportunity is given to each of them so they may be prepared for the journey ahead.
Dead wood is an understatement. Time for the majority of staff to go! And the manager.
the only place they’re going to go is NAU
Hope by Caymanian you mean natives. HSA has far too many of the other nationality which outnumbers everone else on island.
I prefer the most qualified person to get my medical advice from. Not a birth right.
HSA, an organisation with no external accreditation or oversight and poor reputation.
Train to what standards? NOT US, Canadian or UK.
Sorry, train to HSA standards, which like the civil service here, are first world.
I take back my ignorant statement;
Apparently trained to US standards, whilst as others have noted, working to HSA standards.
Exit to work in the US?
Hearing these students are doomed under current HR and EMS management… sigh. They should clean house before these young people come in and are beat down by the system.
I’ve heard the same… apparently it’s one of this most dis-functional department within gov. Many stories about how terrible the manager is towards staff and how low moral is. Shame in such a small place
I was curious, so I looked up.
✅“ The basic difference between EMTs and paramedics lies in their level of education and the kind of procedures they are allowed to perform. While EMTs can administer CPR, glucose, and oxygen, paramedics can perform more complex procedures such as inserting IV lines, administering drugs, and applying pacemakers.”
✅“ Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) students complete a course that is a minimum of 170 hours in length. EMTs are educated in assessing a patient and determining if any life threatening injuries or illnesses may be present.”
✅“ An EMT can administer treatments and procedures that may save the life of the patient.”
✅When EMTs reach the patient that needs care, they will have to evaluate and examine them. They will also have to determine what kind of care the patient needs in this moment before they reach the hospital.
✅They must have a strong knowledge of all the medical equipment and treatments available to them as EMTs so they can make an educated decision on which is best for the patient.
✅Then, they must document what the patient’s current condition is (such as an injury or illness), other pertinent information, which treatment they administered, and how the patient reacted.
✅It’s also crucial that they abide by patient confidentiality rules.
So? First one becomes an EMT then has the opportunity to progress to a paramedic if the ability and desire exists.
Did you start at the top of your profession?
It was simple statement of facts. No need to get defensive or argumentative.
Being offended easily is a national past time in Cayman.
On the internet I believe you meant to say.
In all areas