A nationwide shortage is making its way to southwest Virginia as local fire departments — such as the Martinsville Fire & EMS Department — face a lack of emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
“You make sacrifices with your family, sacrifices with yourself, and then once you are actually doing it more of the severe challenges is staying well,” said Martinsville Fire Chief Ted Anderson.
Becoming an EMT is a demanding job. According to Anderson, at least four EMTs will be leaving his department by next month.
“It would surprise you some of the entry-level salaries as low as they are,” said Anderson. “I have actually seen some fast food places offering starting salaries higher than what some firefighter EMTs start at.”
When Anderson took the test to be a firefighter about 25 years ago, he went up against 100 applicants. Now, he says they can barely get 10 to 12 people.