EMTs equipped to provide better pre-hospital care
− to accident, other victims in emergencies
− offering improved Pre-Hospital Trauma and Life Support Service
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Fifty Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) were recently certified as Pre-Hospital Trauma and Life support (PHTLS) providers by facilitators from the Vanderbilt Medical Centre in Tennessee, USA. The training exercise was organised by the office of the Guyana Emergency Medical Services in collaboration with the Guyana Fire Service (GFS).
PHTLS is recognised around the world as the leading continuing education programme for pre-hospital emergency trauma care. The objective of such a programme is to promote excellence in trauma patient management by all providers involved in the delivery of pre-hospital care.
National Emergency Medical Director, Dr. Zulfikar Bux stated that these EMTs are now certified to international standards and are more equipped to manage trauma patients involved in motor vehicle collisions, or have suffered gunshot wounds, stab wounds or accidental trauma.
The EMTs that attended the Pre-Hospital Trauma and Life support training exercise along with the facilitators.
“These EMTs are now advancing their skills set and members of the public stand to benefit from their services, even more, when they are in need,” Dr Bux stated.
EMTs participating in the exercise lauded the programme which ran for five days.
It was recommended by the EMTs and the Guyana Fire Service that an exercise of this nature be continuous as this PHTLS course was a success.
There are plans for expansion of Emergency Medical Service across the country along with the training of more EMTs in programmes that are internationally accredited.
Dr. Bux commended the team of instructors from the Vanderbilt Medical Centre for their support of this vital initiative. He is also very optimistic of their return to continue to foster similar initiatives and support the development of the Guyana Fire and Emergency Medical Services.
He also indicated his anticipation of the expansion of the EMS service so that more persons can benefit from this critical service. This is, however, dependent on the availability of ambulances and support resources which should be available in the coming months, Dr Bux noted.
The Guyana Fire and Emergency Medical Services (which is an amalgam between the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Emergency Medical Services of the MOPH) in collaboration with Vanderbilt Medical Centre have maintained its mandate to have the Emergency Medical Services acquire an international certification of all Emergency Medical Technicians.
PHTLS is developed by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) in the USA in cooperation with the American College of Surgeons’ Committee on Trauma.
Source: Office of National Director of Emergency Services