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12/28/2005: "12 New EMTs Ready To Serve"

San Juan Emergency Medical Services has added a dozen new EMTs to its ranks. The class of 12 selected from a group of 50 applicants has completed over 4 months of training to become Emergency Medical Technicians under the careful direction of Paramedic Weyshawn Koons, SJEMS's Training Officer.

This brings the San Juan EMS volunteer ranks to 41. Some of these new EMTs live throughout the island in more remote areas such as the north end near Roche Harbor and the south end in the Cape. In an attempt to even further reduce response times, they will be outfitted with specialized equipment and medications allowing for the speedy delivery of life sustaining interventions. San Juan EMS's response times are now even better than the national average for busy urban systems.

These EMTs completed over 200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical time. Each student was required to perform several shifts responding to calls on the ambulances as well as 12 hours in the emergency department at Harborview Trauma and Emergency Center in Seattle. "This far exceeds the State minimum requirements," said Chief Jim Cole. "Additionally, these new Rookie EMTs will complete 32 more hours of orientation and training on patient safety, scene operations, privacy laws, incident command, equipment use, and emergency vehicle driving."

They will remain "rookies" for 3 months while continuing their training under veteran EMTs. During the year 2006, these new EMTS will also become certified as Wilderness EMTs in an additional 48 hour training program.

The San Juan EMS will finish their impressive year with over 800 calls, up from 667 in 2004 making them the busiest EMS agency in the county.