Bermuda's front-line unsung heroes are widely known as EMTs. But few know for sure what EMT stands for.

They are Emergency Medical Technicians, who in the old days were the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital's "men only" ambulance drivers.

On Sunday, male and female EMTs dressed in full uniform, some carrying ready- to-respond emergency equipment, took time out to attend along with their families, the 30th Annual EMTs service of thanksgiving and praise at the Greater Smith Hill Church on Curving Avenue.

It was a spirited service, conducted by the Rev. Eugene Joell, the associate pastor of the church, who was an ambulance driver for decades before becoming a fulltime minister. His career as a driver began in 1965.

Preacher at the service was EMT veteran Bro.Raymond Tucker, who is a lay reader at Bethel AME Church. Bethel's Family Choir under the direction of Gary Bean backed him up. The choir also led the congregational singing of such hymns as "Enter the Gates with Thanksgiving", "Hear My Cry", and "It's Raining All around Me".

Among those attending the service were the President of the Bermuda Industrial Union Mr. Chris Furbert, union secretary Mrs. Helena Molly Burgess and officers of the BIU Hospital Division of which the EMTs are members. Also the Rev. D-Wain Wells of Bethel AME Church, who invoked God's blessing on two new ambulances that have joined the fleet at the hospital. They were parked outside the church attracting much attention with some of their emergency lights on.

The functions of the EMT were outlined by Emergency Department supervisor Mrs. Lynnette Raynor. She said they are trained to administer pre-hospital care upon responding to calls in the community. They treat and stabilise and transport back to the Emergency Department.

The EMTs are highly skilled medical personnel. They undergo a training programme at the hospital; they have to maintain their clinical skills yearly, under a theory course in which they have to maintain their credits.

There were times in the past when a nurse or doctor always responded to calls with drivers. Now that the EMTs are trained to the level they have reached, nursing staff are able to remain in the hospital looking after the emergency patients. There are now 20 EMTs on staff at the hospital along with one chief, Raymond Santucci.

Speaking at the service on Sunday, veteran EMT Wesley Wilson said his colleagues are faced with life and death dilemmas on a daily basis responding to calls. That pertains not only so far as the patients are concerned, but to the wellbeing of the EMTs. Their own survival has been attacked, and become more and more exposed as never before in the wake of lifestyle changes in the community at large.

Some of the dilemmas of the EMT were eloquently summed up by 81-year-old Mrs. Alice Liburd Robinson in a poem she composed and was read by her daughter Mrs. Linda Philpott, at nurses' aide at the King Edward. .Mrs. Robinson, along with her two sisters, Dr. Dorothy Matthews Paynter and Mrs. Helen Williams have been attending the EMTs Annual service since its inception thirty years ago.

Following are excerpts from Mrs. Robinson's poem in which she described the EMTs as very special people who work so hard, but unlike the doctors and nurses never get a card for the wonderful work they do:

"When they leave the hospital, sounding their loud siren, They don't know who they're going to find at the accident scene.

It may be a close relative, friend or foe, but no matter, they have to get there as fast as they can go.

It may be a person with broken bones, it may be more than one, but worst of all it may be too late to help anyone.

And what about the dangers they meet, dashing to and fro on the busy street; people refusing to give way, it's the same over and over each day.

And when they arrive at the accident scene, people are shouting where have you been? What took you so long? It's been an hour since we called, but it really has not been that long at all.

Broken glass scattered around, lifeless bodies on the ground; with multiple injuries received in a fall, or a head-on collision with a truck or wall. Sad at heart and full of gloom they rush them to the emergency room. Some may have a chance of survival, others are dead on arrival. All efforts to save them are in vain, but the EMTs are not to blame. A few minutes later the phone rings again, someone had a terrible pain, can hardly catch their breath, it could be a matter of life or death, so they rush off again and again, in sunshine wind or rain.

The EMTs are special people, as I said before, so please don't criticise them again; and when you call give directions saying exactly where; that will save a lot of time and trouble getting there. So pray for their protection, make this our daily prayer, that the Lord will build a fence around them in his care."