Antrim’s three new EMTs agree that although their course is completed and they have their certification, this line of work is one where the learning never stops.
Not only does the team talk about every call and if there’s anything they could have done better, there are also ongoing evaluations that must be passed on a regular basis throughout an EMTs career.
“It’s a long process and it never stops, because we do continuing education,” said Fire Chief Marshall Gale. “There are some skills that you may never do in your career, so that’s why we have to refresh on those annually.”
Newly official EMT Donna Whitney says that the ever-improving nature of this practice was unexpected, but welcome.
“Learning along the way that I’m always going to be learning…was not not something that I expected,” she said. “But its been exciting, and I feel confident that I can roll with the flow, and when things change I’m going to be able to switch gears.”
EMT, which stands for Emergency Medical Technician, is one of many levels of certification that someone in the medical field can have. Whitney, Adam Paquin-Varnum Whitney and Matt Mair received their certifications after 180 hours spent on a course from October 2021-March 2022, ambulance ride time, field work, passing both the New Hampshire State Practical Exam and the National Registry Cognitive Exam, and passing a full background check with fingerprinting. However, Mair says the long process was made easier by going through it with others.
“There were a few of us that needed the same training at the same time, so we were able to help each other out,” he said. “It was helpful with practicing for the practicals. Two or three of us would be (at the station) at night doing the same thing. It’s helpful to go through any educational experience with a couple people.”
The group support within the department didn’t end after the course was finished, however. It’s a constant within the department.
“The team aspect is amazing,” Whitney said. “Someone’s always got your back, it’s a really great thing.”
Gale says that this support is especially important when dealing with traumatic calls.
“We’ve had some pretty critical stress incidents, especially when it involved young people. So we always have each other, we talk about the call,” he said. “If it’s doing to be traumatic, we’ll bring in the critical stress incident debriefing team (for) anybody involved in the call. We have a good round table discussion and everybody just talks about it.”
Whitney has yet to respond to a traumatic call, but she feels prepared by her course and by the support within the department.
“I was concerned about (it), but the training that I received (from) the course really took care of a lot. I still don’t know hands-on, but I do feel ore confident that I’ll be able to get through the call,” she said. “The support in the department is huge too. I don’t think anybody goes into it wanting that scene, and knowing they’re going to ace the call and not have after effects. So, I like the comradery after the calls, where you get to talk through. That really helps unwind internally, (and) it helps bring me back down.”
Obtaining three new EMTs is more exciting now than ever, as the pandemic has exacerbated the first responder first responder shortage, and the Antrim Fire Department not evaded this crisis. One way they were able to motivate the certification is by paying for the course if they commit to working for the department.
“The fact that I could get the course and commit my time was awesome, and I think its great for the community as well,” Whitney said. “I get to stay here and work in the community that provided my training.”
Gale said that not only the fact that they have three EMTs, but also their availability, has been helpful for the department.
“Daytime is one of the harder times because a lot of folks work out of town,” he said. “We’re a call department, so people aren’t staffed here 24/7 but we are on call 24/7. We were running short-handed sometimes. It was great when Adam, Donna, and Matt stepped up and went to class. Donna and Matt have some pretty good daytime availability so that’s been huge for us.”
The station has been touched by supply chain issues as well. Gale says that they do their best to have the most up-to-date equipment, but that they just ordered a new ambulance that won’t be in the station for 18-24 months.
Despite the staffing and supply chain difficulties, Whitney and Mair are enjoying their first few months as certified EMTs and look forward to continuing to learn in the future.
“It’s really rewarding to make a tangible difference in somebody’s day,” Mair said. “Someone might be having the worst day of their lives, and we’re actually able to do something where (we’re) obviously helping them, and its really rewarding to me.”
Gale is optimistic about the new EMTs’ futures in the field and their commitments to serve the community and continue learning.
“It’s been a huge help to the service to get these new folks. They’ve really excelled at their careers,” he said. “Whether you’re the new EMT or the 30-year vet, you learn on every call.”