Emergency Medical Technicians earn intermediate level NRET Certification

Damion Ferron, Joy Vernon and Ernesto Gallago
recently completed EMT Intermediate certification

Wednesday,  March 16, 2005

Six Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) from the Cayman Islands Hospital and Faith Hospital recently completed the intermediate EMT training and successfully passed their exams to be licensed with the National Registry of Emergency Technicians (NRET) without leaving the country. 

Even in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, training was conducted five days a week from October 2004 through February in addition to working their regular shifts. 

Dr Fiona Robertson, Accident and Emergency Coordinator said, “We have been training our EMTs at the basic and intermediate level for years, but the EMTs had to go overseas to take their exams.

This was the first time examiners from the US came to the Cayman Islands to oversee the EMT training. The EMTs taking the training aced their exams and that is a tremendous boost to our staff, because it says our staff are just as good as the EMTs in the States. 

EMT Joy Vernon is one of the students who trained and passed the exams with flying colours. “I joined the hospital when I was 16 years old, working here for 10 years, seven of those years as an EMT,” said Ms Vernon. “Emergency is my life. The fact I can go to road accidents and know that I can help them is very satisfying. 

Damion Ferron has been an EMT for three years and also passed the NREMT exams. Mr Ferron said, “You have to have affection for people working as an EMT. Being certified as an EMT Intermediate gives me mobility. It is one step further in my goal to becoming a medical doctor. If for some reason I don’t get into medical school, I plan to move on to the paramedic level.

“The patients I work with are always saying ‘thank you, you saved my life and God Bless you’ and that is really gratifying.

“I encourage young people, especially young Caymanians, to consider EMT as a career path.”

Dr Terry Shorr from Healthcare System Preparedness Coordinator of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources conducted the examination for the National Registry and said the certification of the EMTs puts them on par with their counterparts in the United States.

The examination included a trauma patient assessment, adult ventilatory management, intravenous therapy and spinal mobilization. 

The NREMT is the international body responsible for training and certification of EMTs and established world standards.

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