Firsthand experience
EMT program offers training to students
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LEWISTOWN -- The need for emergency medical technicians is at a critical point on both a local and a national level.
Local emergency agencies like Fame EMS in Lewistown are regularly looking to fill volunteer and career EMT positions, says Troy Long, paramedic at Fame, who is also the program coordinator and EMT instructor at The Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology.
"There is a severe shortage of EMTs and paramedics so we are well headed down the highway of a real EMS disaster in a few years," he said. "The volunteer organizations are just like the career organizations. They can't get enough manpower. They can't hire enough EMTs or paramedics."
"Every ambulance service in surrounding counties is looking for EMTs whether it be possible career positions or volunteer positions," he continued.
In response to the local need, The Academy has made an EMT program available, which will begin April 5.
Accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Academy's EMT program is a 200-hour course offered Monday and Thursday evenings and one Saturday per month, which exceeds the hourly minimum requirement for national certification.
"We found that works better for the students," Long said. "It gives them more time to practice their skills."
The program prepares students to take national EMT written and practical examinations.
As part of their duties, EMTs are trained to assess patients, stop bleeding, perform CPR, use AEDs and administer certain medications.
Long said when he started working as an EMT in the mid-80s, all organizations were volunteer and paid jobs were difficult to come by. However, there have been more paid positions become available.
"It was a prerequisite that you had two years experience because there were more paramedics than there were positions. Now, through attrition, those folks that were older in the 80s and 90s transitioned out for whatever reason and the (number of) people coming in those positions are much lower. We have far fewer people wanting to get into emergency services for whatever reason and the actual opportunity for employment has grown exponentially in Mifflin/Juniata counties and surrounding areas."
Long explained that the EMT shortage is partially due to the aging baby boomer population.
"There's no doubt that the majority of the patients that we encounter are older because of all the factors that go along with the aging process," he said.
Thanks to a donation to the Academy Foundation from the Rotary Club of Lewistown, six $250 scholarships are available for EMT training. The program is open to anyone 16 and up.
To register for the program, contact The Academy at (717) 248-3933. Payment plans are available.