Fire Service  to get EMTs to enable ambulance services

Georgetown, GINA, June 23, 2016

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is training 30 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) to be attached to fire stations in Region Four as part of an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) pilot. The EMS programme was announced by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at this week’s post -Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Public Health is providing the training as part of a collaborative effort between the GFS and the ministry.

The pilot project will be facilitated in Region Four according to Fire Chief, Marlon Gentle who told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the Fire Service will “in essence” be creating a “specialised arm” with the addition of the EMTs to its services.

“They will be supported of course by the requisite equipment, ambulances and other first aid and basic life support equipment,” Gentle added. The persons will undergo a six- week training programme at Project Dawn facility, Liliendaal.

The Fire Chief said he would like to see at least three EMTs per fire station. Gentle pointed out that the GFS is in the process of developing fire stations within Region Four so that they can handle both ambulance services and the normal fire fighting duties.

“We’re looking to have initially at least five to six ambulances for the roll-out. We already have two in the Guyana Fire Service system functional and we’re hoping to procure two more from our budgetary allocations this year,” Gentle added.

The EMTs are expected to begin work by October with the aim of picking up patients and taking them to a medical facility within 15 minutes. The EMS will see an increased number of ambulances, more training of emergency medical personnel, and fully equipped medical transportation such as road and water ambulances and aircraft.