Since the launch of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division in 2016, 30 healthy babies have been delivered at the hands of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), 15 of whom were delivered in 2021.
This news comes just after Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn had announced that the EMS would soon be extended to Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Five (Mahaica-Berbice).
The Minister was at the time addressing Guyana Fire Service (GFS) ranks who recently completed the first stage of an Advanced EMS training.
On Thursday, eight EMTs completed Stage One of the Advanced EMS training.
EMTs are usually the first official persons on the scene of an accident and they play a pivotal role in providing first-aid treatment as well as transporting injured persons to the nearest hospital in a timely manner.
The EMS Division of the Guyana Fire and Rescue Service plays a vital role in saving lives and providing prehospital care to the citizens of Guyana.
Over the next four months, the trainees will be engaged in Zoom sessions and practical sessions facilitated by EMS and Physician instructors from the USA and Guyana before completing the course and becoming certified EMTs.
Babies delivered in 2021 by EMTs
The Advanced EMT programme will increase our local EMTs’ educational level from basic to advanced, providing them with life-supporting skills to better serve the Guyanese population.
Upon successful completion of the training, the new advanced EMTs will be able to train other junior technicians which will increase human resources in the field. This will be a major improvement for the EMS Division and will aid its expansion to Regions Three and Five.
In July of last year, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said good EMS could save many lives. At the time he was giving his address at the commissioning of the fire station and ambulance service at Melanie on the East Coast of Demerara.
The Health Minister also said the goal was to replicate the EMS countrywide.
“…if we take a lot of time in expanding this service and that is what we want, to ensure that we do not lose any more opportunity in terms of saving lives,” he had said.
Some of the services provided by our EMTs include CPR, Basic Life Support, Prehospital Trauma Life Support, Bleeding Control, Baby Deliveries and Breathing Control.
In addition, for the year 2021, EMTs responded to a total of 5488 calls with an average of 15 calls per day.
Citizens are encouraged to call the 912 hotline to request an ambulance and make use of the EMS. (G2)
