HEMSI training program hopes to build first responder workforce

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Ambulance services across the country are struggling to find emergency medical technicians. To fight the worker shortage, some ambulance services are paying workers to learn while on the job. HEMSI is one of those.

When there's fewer people answering 911 calls, that can put people's lives at risk. Add added stress to current first responders, and the job gets harder. Now, ambulance services are trying to recruit new workers in a different way.

The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians says training programs are popping up across the country to help knock down the barriers of becoming a first responder. The training doesn't come cheap for these departments, but for many, if it puts people in jobs, it's worth it.

HEMSI provides a variety of work schedules, medical benefits, tuition assistance, training, other insurance, and has a number of current openings for EMTs and paramedics.

"We have shortages from the top to the bottom. We need paramedics, EMTs and advanced EMTs. We will take anyone that's interested," said HEMSI EMS Program Coordinator, Bruce Swanson.

Alongside staffing shortages, Huntsville's ever-growing population has naturally led to more emergency calls.

"Our call volume is naturally going to rise as the population rises in the community. So, yes, we will feel the effects of the of our growing population in the city," said Swanson.

Again, when it comes to staffing shortages, COVID-19 was one of the main reasons most industries took a hit. The same goes for the EMS industry.

"COVID was pretty harsh on us for those two years and so what we did is we came up with an idea of creating what we call the EMS Academy," said Swanson.

You have the ability to become an EMT and an advanced EMT through the EMS academy.

"You complete the program for an EMT in ten weeks versus a semester at community college," said Swanson.

Swanson has been doing this for over 50 years, when I asked him if this was a calling, here's how he answered: "It is an ever-changing job. You may run a call where you just hold the hand of someone that you take to the hospital and comfort them, or you may run a to where you perform lifesaving skills like CPR to restore their heartbeat. You just never know what you're going to get into as an EMT or a paramedic.

A calling that you may have as well, "the people that apply, have answered that call. We have almost a 95% retention of graduates from the academy," said Swanson.

Current openings at HEMSI can be found here.

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