Local EMTs being equipped to better serve Spanish community

To better serve members of the local Spanish-speaking community, health authorities have added Spanish to the curriculum used to train emergency medical professionals.

Math as well as technical English have also been added to the curriculum.

“The Spanish component, in particular, was added in order to give prehospital care providers the ability to communicate more efficiently with the BVI’s Spanish community,” said Rodney Brathwaite, the BVI’s Emergency Disaster Management Coordinator.

The 11-month training course for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) is offered by the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in partnership with the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA).

Thirteen students are currently enrolled in the course which consists of lectures, research and online discussion forums. In addition to online sessions, students also take part in simulation lab sessions as well as clinical rotations in the hospital and on the ambulance.

Organizers of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) in the BVI said they are developing the essential service to provide advanced medical care at the scene and during transport to definitive care.

“As we enter a new decade, we eagerly look towards the future of prehospital care. This future will include dramatic improvements in patient care thanks to advances in research, information sharing and life-changing technology,” Brathwaite said.

The BVIHSA said the September 2017 disasters highlighted the need for building community-based disaster resilience.

The organisation also said it is committed to partnering with key stakeholders to assist with this process by training personnel within communities with the necessary skills to provide prehospital care during disasters.