Home » Health & Wellness » First Aid » FIRST RESPONDERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AND PARAMEDICS

FIRST RESPONDERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AND PARAMEDICS

© Kathleen Newton

When you call 911 for an emergency, help is dispatched immediately. If your house is on fire, the fire trucks and firefighters come to the rescue. If you are injured or ill, an ambulance and crew comes to your aid. But who are the people inside the ambulance? They're the men and women of your local Emergency Medical Services squad, and they're highly trained and qualified to take very good care of you. EMS workers are classified into several different categories, based on the level of training they have received, and the certification exams they have taken. All 50 states require EMS workers to be certified. In 38 states and the District of Columbia, registration with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians is required. All other states have their own certification exams and requirements. Certification is maintained by reregistering, usually every two years, and by meeting continuing education requirements.

FIRST RESPONDERS First Responders, as their name implies, are typically the first people to arrive at the scene of an emergency, and are trained in basic emergency medical care. Many police officers, firefighters, and others likely to be involved in emergency situations are trained as First Responders.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS

EMT-B (Basic) EMT's at this level are trained to provide emergency care at the scene, and in the ambulance. EMT-B's are trained in emergency first aid and CPR, as well as patient assessment skills and management of trauma, and respiratory and cardiac emergencies.

EMT-I (Intermediate) In addition to the training received by EMT-B's, Intermediates receive additional, advanced training in administration of IV fluids and use of manual defibrillators (to start a heart that has stopped). EMT-I's also receive training in the use of advanced airway techniques and equipment for people in respiratory distress.

PARAMEDICS Paramedics are the most extensively trained pre-hospital caregivers. In addition to the training received by EMT-I's, Paramedics are also trained to give oral and IV drugs, read and interpret EKG's (electrocardiograms), and use cardiac and other monitors and equipment. Paramedics are also trained to perform endotracheal intubations (inserting a tube into the patient's airway to assist with artificial respiration). Paramedic training can last up to two years, and is usually found as an Associate's Degree program at community colleges.

During emergency transport via ambulance, the crew (EMT's and/or Paramedics) is in constant radio contact with the receiving Emergency Room and it's doctors and nurses. This ensures that the ER staff is updated on the patient's status on a regular basis. It also allows the ER doctor to order medication and procedures for the patient that can be administered by the ambulance crew.

The copyright of the article FIRST RESPONDERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AND PARAMEDICS in First Aid is owned by Kathleen Newton. Permission to republish FIRST RESPONDERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AND PARAMEDICS in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.