In the Mountain State, the role of first responders goes far beyond merely answering 911 calls. Their critical services are currently threatened by potential program cuts, a situation highlighted by Christopher Starkey, a paramedic and lieutenant with Lewis County Emergency Medical Services. On Tuesday night, Starkey emphasized the urgent need for trained medical providers, stating that the loss of any more training programs would severely impact their ability to serve the community.
Starkey traveled to Monongalia County to attend a meeting with the Board of Education, which is facing its own medical education challenge. The meeting room was crowded with first responders, all concerned about the future of emergency medical services training in the area. Starkey, representing his peers rather than his employer, manages the “WV Calvary EMS” Facebook page, advocating for those on the front lines of emergency response.
Monongalia County’s Board is contemplating the closure of the emergency medical services program at the Monongalia County Technical Education Center (MTEC), a facility renowned for producing skilled healthcare professionals such as nurses and operating room technicians. Despite the area’s relative prosperity, the Mon Schools are operating with a $4 million budget shortfall, prompting difficult decisions about program cuts, as explained by Schools Superintendent Eddie Campbell Jr.
The rigorous nature of the EMS program at MTEC, covering subjects like biochemistry and neuroscience, results in high dropout rates. However, Starkey argues that such rigor is essential for first responders to provide effective aid. His two decades of experience include responding to a wide array of emergencies, underscoring the need for well-trained professionals.
The demand for emergency services in West Virginia far exceeds the number of available responders. Last year, approximately 1,000 EMTs and 800 paramedics managed nearly 2 million emergency calls, a daunting task exacerbated by the closure of 26 independent ambulance services due to financial and staffing constraints. Many services survive solely on billing from calls without substantial funding from the state or local municipalities.
Despite these challenges, MTEC has a successful track record of producing capable EMS professionals, as noted by Chelsea Hayes, the program’s director. She emphasized that graduates secure employment and are actively contributing to community safety. Hayes shared a recent success story of a 17-year-old student who, while working part-time at a restaurant, saved a life by performing CPR on a patron.
Hayes urged the Board to carefully consider the implications of their decision, stressing the indispensable role of EMTs and paramedics who are trained to make critical decisions without the aid of labs or imaging. As she passionately noted, these responders rely on their instincts, knowledge, and a flashlight to navigate life-and-death situations.
