THE Guyana Fire Service (GFS) in collaboration with the Public Health Ministry will commence a five-year programme to introduce Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) in November, Fire Chief, Marlon Gentle has said.EMTs are healthcare providers trained to respond quickly to emergency situations regarding medical issues, traumatic injuries and accident scenes. The pilot project will be facilitated in Region Four and 30 EMTs will be attached to fire stations in the region. The EMTs are expected to begin work by November with the aim of picking up patients and taking them to a medical facility in a timely manner. The Emergency Medical Service (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.

The Fire Chief explained that the composition of fire unit and medical personnel from the Public Health Sector will also be part of the initial batch of EMTs. The EMTs will be dispatched to Fire Stations along the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara.

Underscoring that the project will be launched with four ambulances, Gentle said the main aim of the EMTs is to establish medical response ambulance services via land, air and water with a timely response.

In any country, an EMS plays a critical role in delivering quality healthcare services to the public, as it provides the first answer in distressing situations. From the smash-ups on our roads to reports on domestic violence, an early response is one of the key factors in the successful treatment of injuries and the prevention of possible death.

Medical Director of the EMS Department of GPHC, Dr. Zulfikar Bux, who is the local programme director was not available for a comment. Georgetown Public Hospital officials related that he was on leave.