Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. announced recently that legislation he co-sponsored to help recruit and retain Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) has passed both houses and is waiting enactment into law by Governor George E. Pataki.

According to Fuschillo, this legislation would institute a temporary program that would change the re-certification period from three to five years for EMT's and Advanced EMT's provided that the volunteer has completed 130 hours of instruction and has been in continuous practice.

"Due to an increase in the minimum required hours for EMT certification, volunteer recruitment and retention levels have decreased throughout the state," Fuschillo said. "Increasing the length of time for volunteers who maintain their skills through continuous practice and 'on the job' training, will ease re-certification requirements and encourage more to do so."

Only EMT's that can be re-certified under the program must have completed at least 130 hours of instruction in emergency medical services in areas including but not limited to pediatrics, geriatrics, environmental emergencies, legal issues, emergency vehicle operations course and medical emergencies. Within a year after implementing this program and every year thereafter, the commissioner of the New York State Health Department will report to the governor and the legislature the impact of the program on the quality of patient care and the effectiveness of the program in retaining and recruiting certified EMT's. The new re-certification program would be in effect through July 1, 2008 at which time it can be renewed by the state legislature.

"This new re-certification program will help fight the current decrease in active EMT volunteers throughout the state," said Howard Callman, Nassau County AMT and certified EMT." Fuschillo has worked diligently to see this legislation passed in an effort to help recruit and retain more EMT's."