Visiting EMS trainers impressed with local firefighters’ abilities

Three visiting Emergency Medical Services trainers from the U.S. mainland are all praises over local firefighters’ knowledge in EMS components.

David Bower, a program director for Emergency Medical Services for Children at the University of South Dakota, said Thursday that he and fellow EMS trainers—Dan Jones and Emy Marsh—are very impressed at both the dedication and knowledge of local firefighters.

“They’ve been working very hard and we’re very confident that all of them will be able to get their national certification,” said Bower in an interview with Saipan Tribune at the Kagman Community Center.

The visiting trainers have been conducting emergency medical technician’s basic refresher course for the CNMI’s firefighters at the Kagman Community Center since Monday. The training ended yesterday, Friday.

Bower said they’re here to help the local EMS personnel meet national certification so that their level of training matches with the rest of the nation. “So they know that their training is as good as anywhere else in the mainland in the states. They meet the same level of training,” he said.

Bower pointed out that the intent of the training is to provide a higher level of care for patients in the CNMI.

Fire Division Operations chief Fire Captain Tom Manglona said the training is a minimum of 24 hours, but they can extend up to 40 hours if needed.

Manglona said there are 80 participating firefighters from Saipan, 15 from Tinian, and 10 from Rota.

“Today we’re doing our EMI basic refresher course for our seasoned firefighters as part of our training calendar for 2009. We’re getting our guys updated as far as their EMT recertification is concerned,” he said.

On Thursday, the firefighters conducted practical skills testing.

“Once these are all set and done, we are giving the guys an opportunity to actually take the National Registry EMT exam. It is a national certification exam for EMS personnel,” Manglona said.

The training, he said, can be considered preparation for the local firefighters to take the National Registry EMT’s exam.

“Everybody will have an opportunity to be certified. We do this every two years—recertification as EMTs,” Manglona said.

EMTS have to recertify every two years and they also have to be recertified with the CPR basic life support certification from the American Heart Association.

“We got some trainers that are assisting us here from the EMS for Children and the School of EMS,” said Manglona, referring to Bower’s group.

Manglona said the training is very important because it gives them an opportunity to update their skills and go over any new knowledge as far as the pre-hospital care is concerned.

“At the same time, the training gives our guys an opportunity to get back into the classroom and talk about their experiences out in the field and how we can better improve our response and patient care management in the field,” said the Fire captain.