There are staffing challenges for the BC Ambulance Service on Haida Gwaii."In terms of staffing levels, our current structure has maintained an appropriate level of service to the area," said BCAS media relations manager Kelsie Carwithen. "However, we aware that occasionally we experience staffing challenges and have made every attempt to fill shifts and have coverage available." Ms Carwithen said the BCAS is committed to ongoing recruitment on the islands.Currently Masset's ambulance service has nine employees while Port Clements has seven, Sandspit has eight and Queen Charlotte has 13."BCAS is aware that additional staff are required to meet the ongoing service needs of the community," Ms Carwithen said. The BCAS is recruiting locally and is sponsoring an Emergency Medical Responder course on island, scheduled for February with eight participants slated to attend. Ms Carwithen said the BCAS is committed to training new hires and offers support for the EMR training to those who complete the BCAS screening process and have a Class 4 driver's license. Anyone interested in becoming a paramedic or an emergency medical services responder should visit the BCAS web site at www.bcas.ca, or contact Human Resources at 250-614 9936, said Ms Carwithen.