HANNIBAL, MO. -- Hannibal LaGrange University says it will start an EMT / EMS program later this spring.
Initially the program is expected to have between 15 and 20 students and will last approximately 18 weeks.
Once students finish the first part of the course work, they'll be able to take their state exam to be certified as an EMTB
HLGU also says they will offer a paramedic course in the fall and students will be able to obtain an associates degree in Emergency Medical Services.
It's a career field that EMS director's say they're going to need more people to fill the need in the coming years.
Because of the aging population, there are more ambulance districts that are needing qualified candidates because there are more calls for service.
On an average day, the Marion County Missouri Ambulance District gets between 12 and 15 calls. That totals about 4,500 calls a year and the call volume continues to increase. So that's why there's a need for more people to become certified EMTs and paramedics.
"There's more of a need for paramedics. Only 12 out of 100 EMTs go onto be a career paramedic. So that's a pretty sobering figure for when you're an agency that's trying to find paramedics to keep your advance life support system in operation," said Jon Nemes, director of the Marion County Ambulance District.
Nemes has been with the Marion County Ambulance District for the last 13 years and he said they had to look within a 120 mile radius of Hannibal to hire their last qualified applicants. He adds once an EMT gets their license, only 50 percent of them go on into a career in EMS and only half of them will go on to get their paramedic license.
"Well the more education you can provide to the community, it's better. Our program we're looking to train and recruit not only EMTs, but also career paramedics," said Nemes.
So Nemes hopes that with incentives and offers to allow for easier access to getting an EMT and or a paramedic license, the tri state area won't see a decline in the number of people who want to work in the EMS field over the next decade or two.
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