LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro Emergency Services (EMS) celebrated their latest MetroSafe Academy graduating class on Friday.
The 48th graduating class consisted of nine future call takers or dispatchers. They trained for more than 180 hours.
Louisville Metro EMS said they're down about three dozen positions due to recent retirements, so the need for new telecommunicators is high.
"They seem like a very well-rounded group of people," Executive Director Jody Meiman said. "And we hope that they can get up there, get certified quickly and effectively as they can. And get on there so they can help our staffing issues."
He also reminded them they are the first, first responders.
"So we're looking at people that can, that can, you know, think really fast, multitask and...manage stress in a way that, you know is effective on both sides," Meiman said. "I mean, they're they're literally giving CPR instructions to people over the phones. They're given baby delivery instructions over the phone, and they're talking to our public safety agencies."
Now, they will be on the floor, getting on-the job training by taking phone calls or dispatching first responders.
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