PUHI — Sixteen new emergency medical technicians are now ready to help save lives after graduating on Thursday night at Kaua‘i Community College.
This total is greater than the 14 who celebrated on O‘ahu, according to a televised news report, after successfully completing the training program.
The O‘ahu graduates are needed to reinforce the ambulance program that faces a huge manpower shortage, resulting in poor morale and hampered response times.
Kaua‘i does not face that severity in manpower shortage, said EMT instructor Michael Taboniar. However, new EMTs are needed to replace those who leave by attrition.
The graduates started their journey to being EMTs in August, and received their pins and certificates on Thursday night before an audience of family, friends and supporters.
“It was pretty intense,” said Aric Acorda, one of the new EMTs. “We started in August, and the instructors threw a lot of things at us in a short amount of time. It was not easy. We had to learn a lot of new things.”
One of the instructors, Jeff Zuckernick, is the chair of the EMS Department at Kapi‘olani Community College, and a paramedic in Kilauea.
“I do two full-time jobs,” Zuckernick said. “I spend 40 hours as the chair of the EMS Department. Then, on weekends, I do another 40-plus hours with American Medical Response in Kilauea.”
The new EMTs, including Acorda, are Juvann Bautista, Brandi Briones, Alexie Cabulisan, Anapuni Dato, Desiree Devorree, Chelsea Doi, Krystal Ijima, Jason Molina, Clifton Oliver, Casey Ching Pacheco, Selina Satter Lee, Jana Sheatz, Glenda Soliman, Brandi Lynn Ventar and Minami Yamada.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
