Leon Guerrero-Tenorio Administration Welcomes First Paramedics

Hagåtña, Guam - The Leon Guerrero-Tenorio Administration welcomes Guam’s first-ever paramedics. A ceremony was held on Tuesday to recognize the 14 paramedics with the Guam Fire Department (GFD), who are the first on Guam to be licensed under the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians with support from the Health Professional Licensing Office of the Department of Public Health & Social Services, the Guam Department of Labor, and the Guam Community College. All completed the School of EMS Paramedic Program in Tyler, Texas, and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians Exam. “Our administration is proud to advance our healthcare delivery systems for our people–and it starts before a patient even gets to the hospital,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “Helping to save lives is one of a firefighter's fundamental duties, and being properly equipped for anything is crucial to preparation for disaster. As paramedics, our firefighters will now have the technical know-how to offer vital services to those in need thanks to their training and certification as paramedics at the national level.” “As the first lines of medical emergency response, our paramedics often are the ones who can make the biggest difference between life and death for a person in crisis. Obtaining their licensure demonstrates both their proficiency in delivering medical care across our communities and their commitment to saving lives to the best of their ability,” said Lt. Governor Joshua Tenorio. “We want to congratulate the first group of paramedics on this incredible achievement, and we look forward to hearing their stories of bravery and heroism on the field.” The Nationally Registered Emergency Technician Paramedic is an allied health professional whose primary focus is providing advanced medical care for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. This individual possesses the complex knowledge and skills necessary for patient care and transportation. Paramedics function as part of a comprehensive EMS response under medical oversight. Paramedics perform interventions with the basic and advanced equipment typically found in an ambulance. The paramedic is a link from the scene to the healthcare system. ###