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CNMI firefighters urged to obtain more EMS training
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Posted on Feb 03 2009
A visiting Emergency Medical Services trainer from the University of South Dakota has urged local firefighters to undergo a higher level of EMS training to enable them to save more lives.
David Boyer, a program director for EMS for Children at the University of South Dakota, said the Department of Public Safety’s Fire Division personnel have been trained to what is called a basic EMS level.
“From my perspective, I believe that it would be great someday to see them in an advanced level of care where they can provide more care in the field,” said Boyer.
Boyer was among three EMS trainers from the U.S. mainland who conducted a weeklong emergency medical technician’s basic refresher course for the CNMI’s firefighters at the Kagman Community Center last week.
Boyer underscored the importance for the CNMI’s firefighters to undergo such advanced training because of remote areas on the island that make it harder to immediately bring patients to the hospital.
“The higher the level of training they have, it’s like bringing the hospital to the patients,” he said.
The program director said that, from what he and co-trainers have seen, local firefighters would be able to get to a level where they can become paramedics.
With such training, Boyer added, local firefighters will deliver a higher level of care in the field, save more lives, and have better outcomes.
