Twelve new Bermudian emergency medical technicians have been added to the island’s dwindling corps of first responders.

The group made history as the first graduating cohort of the pilot programme of a partnership between Bermuda College, the Bermuda Hospitals Board and the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Services.

The local programme is validated by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, which provides national certification of standards and competency, and is recognised in every state in the United States. It is the first time that the Registry has been allowed to be used internationally.

Edward Schultz, Chief of Emergency and Hyperbaric Services at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, said in a statement: “This means that Bermuda is now recognised as a designated authorising agency for the NREMT, and that students of the EMT training course offered through Bermuda College are entitled to sit the basic EMT certifying exam, and if successful gain full NREMT reciprocity in the United States.”

Dr Schultz credited the hard work of EMT-paramedic, David Duperreault, formerly of the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service.

Bermuda Hospitals Board chief EMT officer Walter Brangman stated: “This programme was a lot of work but has been very rewarding for me.

“I’m so pleased to have worked with these 12 dedicated students and witnessed first-hand their passion and drive to make the grade.

“It takes commitment to complete a course like this and the skills they’ve acquired put us in good stead as a country with world-class, highly trained EMTs readily available.”

Three of the 12 new graduates have already sat and passed the NREMT exam, allowing them to practise locally, or anywhere in the US. Two of the students, Mahkye Steede and Armani Wears, have already secured employment at the Bermuda Fire Services.

Karen Smith, programme co-ordinator of the EMT course at Bermuda College’s PACE Division, credited the teamwork as a main component of the programme’s success.

“PACE is always poised to provide customised training leading to certification for local and international programmes,” she said.

“The EMT programme is a perfect example of how the College and industry can collaborate to meet the demands of the workforce in a timely manner.”

Both emergency services anticipate continued job openings in the next three to five years. The 15-week course will launch its second cohort this fall.

For more information contact Karen Smith at Bermuda College.