Butler County commissioners right to ask for assistance to expand EMS training
Butler County commissioners were thinking of the future when they started both emergency medical technician and paramedic training programs in the county.
And, as we learned in the Thursday, Sept. 11, edition of the Butler Eagle, that program has caught the attention of others. On Wednesday, representatives from Mercer County-based Superior Ambulance Service and Armstrong County-based Freeport Fire-EMS came before the commission to ask to be included in the program.
Under the two training programs, people who want to become EMTs or paramedics go through paid training and in return agree to work for an EMS provider in the county for a period of time.
That means people who work for out-of-county EMS providers wouldn’t be able to go through the program and keep working where they currently do.
The request is worth considering, because although both are based in other counties, they do serve Butler County residents.
But, as all three commissioners pointed out, every program is constrained by the resources available, and Butler County was the only county regionally to start such a program to help ensure emergency medical providers are available when they’re needed.
The commissioners suggested that the representatives go back to their county commission board and ask about their counties joining Butler County’s program, and to provide some support to help it continue.
That is the ideal way to expand this program — by joining with other counties and pooling our resources.
We hope the leaders of Armstrong and Mercer counties see the benefit and find a way to join in.
— JK
