VIDEO: The reported shortage of emergency medical workers is being filled with the EMT academy on the campus of Kapiolani Community College.
On Wednesday, the Honolulu Emergency Services Director Dr. Jim Ireland spoke with KITV4 about the program that is significantly bolstering his ranks.
James Ireland, M.D., Honolulu Emergency Services Dept. Director says, "EMS is stressful. It's not for everybody.
It's a really hard job and we have a great, great team of dispatchers, EMTs and paramedics.
But what this class is doing is the future of EMS. This class of 31 students will augment the 13 students, graduates that we just hired from KCC."
Dr. Ireland says that by next year, he expects to hire up to 15 more EMTs who will fill most vacant spots.