San Jose EMT-1 Project Training 600 Personnel
The San Jose, Calif., Fire Department is involved in the monumental task of training over 600 of its personnel to the EMT-1 level.
We began this project in 1978 by analyzing our medical emergency responses for previous years and discovered that over 40 percent of our responses were for medical emergencies that required some type of action on our part. In the 1977-1978 reporting year, we responded to nearly 20,000 alarms. We also noted that during a five-year period, our medical emergency calls increased at a steady 500 calls per year, drawing us deeper and deeper in the medical emergency field.
Our medical training was then evaluated by the training division and found to be minimal at best. We contacted the IAFC/IAFF apprenticeship program managers and began the steps toward training our 623 fire fighters (from the rank of captain down) to the EMT-1 level. They made it possible for us to purchase the necessary equipment and hire instructors that met state qualifications.
Apprenticeship program
The first step was to get the apprenticeship program approved by the state. After lengthy negotiations, with invaluable help from Floyd Yocum and Byron Byrne of the IAFC/IAFF EMT apprenticeship program, we developed a workable program to provide continuing education in addition to the initial 96 hours of classroom training— the backbone of the apprenticeship concept. This concept assures that our EMTs will not only receive a quality education during classroom instruction, but also will maintain that skill between recertification periods.
Our concept was to equip four satellite training sites—one in each of our four districts—and train approximately 20 men per site on all three shifts. We then planned to shift these sites after each cycle to pick up additional personnel. Three cycles at 13 weeks each would cover the entire department.
This simple sounding concept unleashed a multitude of problems. The first was the difficulty of finding qualified, state-approved instructors. The State Health Department required program approval and instructors who were registered nurses with a minimum of two years of recent emergency room experience.
Quality is key to success
Locating qualified, available people to fill these spots was extremely difficult, but was definitely the key to a successful program. Our instructors (Rick Scollon, Carolyn Andrews, Ruth Hackett, and John Ranallo) have added an expertise to the course that generates motivation in even the less than enthusiastic student.
Another problem was shift trades, sick leave, vacations, etc. Our instruction takes place every day, Monday through Friday (except holidays). On our schedule, most vacations would mean a person missed a maximum of three classes. Locating a training site in a company’s first-in district enables members who missed a class to return to the site during their study time and receive instruction from company members who attended the class. The fact that no one failed the first cycle indicates this is a sound practice.
Coordinator selected
Most of the remaining problems concerned logistics and assistance to instructors. One of our fire fighters, Joe Roberts, has an extensive medical background. He had the task of coordinating the instructors and the continuity of the program.
In May 1979, we started instruction with three instructors teaching at three sites. In September, 156 EMT-1s were certified. Just prior to September, the state approved an EMT-1 (fire service) or EMT-1 (FS) program. This program is basically identical to EMT-1 (ambulance), except that the emphasis on hospitals and ambulances is replaced by extrication. We completed the requirements for EMT-l(FS) and graduated our first class of 156 under this program.
Our second cycle had 240 more students. On March 1, we will start cycle III, under the guidance of Mission College, and complete our goal of over 600 EMT-l(FS) personnel.
Field observations indicate our people received high-quality instruction, and we are extremely proud of their accomplishments.
