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Emergency Medical Technicians, or EMT’s, are among the first to be contacted and to arrive on the scene of medical emergency situations. These emergencies can range anywhere from car accidents or childbirth to broken bones or heart attacks. EMT’s are trained to assess the patient, their needs, and their surroundings, provide emergency care on the spot, and transport the patient to a nearby medical facility for further medical assistance. As an EMT, you are a vital part of a team of professionals that save lives and serve communities by providing care to individuals facing emergency illnesses or injuries.
The functions of an EMT can be very challenging yet highly rewarding. EMT’s work long, extensive shifts and are expected to make quick, life saving decisions at any given moment. Their work can be physically strenuous, demanding, and stressful at times. However they are compassionate, quick-minded, and highly trained individuals that can perform an array of medical skills and procedures. Much of the specific work an EMT does is dependent on their level of training, educational background, and certification. Requirements for certification generally vary from state to state. Upon successful completion of EMT programs, students are eligible to sit for both state and national examinations for certification at their respective levels. Generally there are three different levels of EMT certification. The first of these is the EMT-Basic which performs under the supervision of highly trained medical personnel. Individuals with their EMT-Basic certification are qualified to assess patient’s conditions and manage respiratory, cardiac, and trauma emergencies at the basic level. The next level of training is the EMT-Intermediate. EMT-Intermediate certification gives individuals advanced educational training and greater professional responsibilities. However, the actual responsibilities of these professionals vary from state to state. Finally, EMT-Paramedic certification provides individuals with the highest level of pre-hospital training. Paramedics perform all the functions of the EMT-Basic and EMT-Intermediate, as well as Advanced Life Support. Paramedics are able to administer medications orally and intravenously, interpret EKG’s, perform endotracheal intubations, and use monitors and other medical equipment. To perform as an EMT at any level, individuals must go through extensive training in classroom lectures, clinical settings at hospitals, and field internships with ambulance services, fire departments, or other medical emergency departments. Requirements for certification at the state and national levels differ between states. At the EMT-Basic level, training is focused on basic emergency skills and emergency equipment. EMT-Intermediate training differs from state to state and requires anywhere from 30-350 hours of training. Training for EMT-Paramedic students can take up to two years and focuses on advanced medical skills and includes extensive coursework, clinical, and field internships. Employment for Emergency Medical Technicians is expected to be on the rise for the next several years. EMT’s usually gain employment through fire departments, police departments, hospitals, and independent third-service rescue squads such as private ambulance services. EMT’s earnings weigh heavily on the level of training and experience the individual has, as well as the geography and location of their place of employment. The average EMT can make anywhere from $11 to $19 an hour. |
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