National Emergency Medical Services
The National Emergency Medical Service comprises:
- An EMS hospital-based service
- A community-based EMS service at 3 fire / police stations in New Providence - Carmichael Road, Elizabeth Estates and South Beach.
- E-919 Emergency dispatch system for Fire, Police and Ambulance
- A Family Island (voluntary) First Responder program.
Emergency Medical Services New Providence:
In 1949, a ground ambulance service was implemented in New Providence attached to Princess Margaret Hospital. Special work began in 1993 to upgrade and expand these services to a fully coordinated, professional response system for pre-hospital emergency care throughout The Bahamas.
This system is more advanced in New Providence and Grand Bahama, with a full range of trained staff, equipment and protocols. In 1999, NEMS became a part of the Enhanced 919 system (E-919).
The Emergency Medical Dispatchers in Nassau have been fully integrated with the Royal Bahamas Police Force system for a comprehensive emergency response that networks fire, police and ambulance.
Emergency Medical Services Grand Bahama Health Services:
The Grand Bahama Health Services Emergency Medical Services Department personnel have undergone extensive training, and four (4) are members of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.
Presently the group is continuing its upgrading and re-certification of staff at the Basic Life Support (BLS) level.
Emergency Medical Services in the Family Islands:
The islands of Abaco, Andros, Exuma, Long Island and Eleuthera each have access to a ground ambulance service to assist with the transportation of medical emergencies to the health clinics.
The First Responder programme, the concept of which is to prepare a core group of volunteers in each of the Family Islands and Grand Bahama with the appropriate training and protocols to serve as an immediate line of care in an emergency situation, was launched in 1999, with the first group of volunteers being trained on the island of Abaco. Since then, persons have been trained in Andros, Bimini, Exuma, Eleuthera, Long Island, and Grand Bahama.