It’s a critical condition impacting cities and towns all over Connecticut and the nation: a shortage of paramedics and EMTs.
“We’ve seen a significant shortage of EMTs and paramedics,” explained Beth Szantyr, a field supervisor for Trinity Health of New England EMS in Waterbury. “It’s very serious in Connecticut. People are running short-staffed across the state.”
To try and make up for the shortage in numbers, first responders have had to adapt. “Shorter break times, longer times in between meals,” said Szantyr.
She also tells News 8, mutual aid agreements between neighboring communities have helped to maintain emergency response.
“We all have to help each other; that’s not just right now, that’s always,” she said. “This is 911 and you expect us to be there.”