§ 3051. Declaration of purpose. Emergency medical services provided to those suffering from sudden illness or injury have potential to reduce the incidence of disability and death and are therefore, invaluable. A training program of high quality is the key to assuring that emergency medical services personnel have the knowledge and skills to care for acutely ill and injured patients in a manner which will prevent further illness and injury. There is therefore a need to provide flexible, diverse and high quality training opportunities which are reasonably available, particularly to volunteers who devote considerable time, effort, and often personal resources, to improve or retain their knowledge and skills. The state has a responsibility to support and further the work of those who provide emergency medical care by providing needed instructional resources.

The purpose of this article is to expand and improve training opportunities for emergency medical service personnel, thereby benefiting all the residents of New York state who rely on the services of these personnel.