All 14 recruit firefighters are on course to complete phase one of their training programme, learning how to tackle medical emergencies.A spokesman for the Ministry of National Security said that all the recruits are expected to pass the Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate Course, and become EMT-I certified.Once the recruits pass and are added to the schedule, it will help to provide a more flexible work schedule for the fire service, which has for the past three years been working under ideal strength.Since 1996, all firefighters are trained to work as co-responders with the emergency room staff at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, treating the injures as well as fighting blazes.As a result of the effort, the number of emergency calls the service responds to has skyrocketed from 1,200 in 1999 to 4,167 in 2010.National Security Minister David Burch said: “The community can take comfort in knowing that skilled, highly trained first responders are at their service.”Next week, the recruits are scheduled to begin the seventh week of the 26-week foundational training course, which revolves around fire suppression.lUseful website: www.gov.bm.