Buffalo, NY - Mayor Byron W. Brown joined officials of American Medical Response (AMR) for the graduation of 21 new Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) who will be serving the Buffalo area. He also encouraged Buffalo residents interested in becoming EMTs to apply for the next AMR training class, which begins on September 5, 2019. The application deadline is August 9, 2019.
This marked the 4th class of graduates of AMR’s innovative Earn While You Learn program, which pays EMS trainees as full-time employees during their 12-week training course. The course, developed in conjunction with the City of Buffalo.
“In July 2018, I joined AMR management and leadership of Teamsters Local 449 to announce a new collective bargaining agreement for AMR’s unionized work, a contract that laid the groundwork for the Earn While You Learn program,” Mayor Brown said. “Paid training makes a career in emergency medical services more accessible and inclusive by ensuring financial stability while training.”
To date, more than 100 EMTs have graduated from the paid training program, with City of Buffalo residents making up 50 percent of the graduates.
“The program has proven to be a huge success,” said Timothy Frost, AMR Regional Director. “Too many talented people want to become EMTs and aren’t able to take time without pay to be trained. Now, because of this program, we have over 100 new EMTs to join the nearly 500 EMS professionals at AMR Buffalo.”
For 32 months straight, AMR has had full response time compliance in Buffalo. Response times in Buffalo have been the best the city has ever documented.
“Mayor Brown has been a vital partner in this effort,” said Thomas Maxian, AMR Regional President. “His dedication to diversity and inclusion matches AMR’s, and we’ve been able to run innovative programs such as Earn While You Learn to help improve EMS service in Buffalo because of it.”
Application for the next AMR training class and course information is available at: www.amrwny.net