Is EMS For Me?

People’s lives depend on quick reaction and competent care from Emergency Medical Services.

EMTs and paramedics respond to emergency calls, performing medical services and transporting patients to medical facilities.  Paramedics work both indoors and outdoors, in all types of weather. Their work is physically strenuous and can be stressful, sometimes involving life-or-death situations and patients who are suffering.

What Is The Difference Between An EMT & A Paramedic?

Both EMTs and Paramedics are trained healthcare professionals who respond to medical and traumatic emergencies in a pre-hospital setting. Both of these professionals are highly skilled and have extremely important roles in pre-hospital patient care.

There are two main differences between an EMT and a Paramedic:

  • The amount of education they recieve
  • The scope of practice (what they can and cannot perform on a patient)

If you have been thinking about a career in EMS as a Paramedic, EMT and/or Firefighter then Respond Right EMS Academy can help you.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Respond Right EMS Academy’s EMT training involves 152 hours of classroom and lab education. Additionally, EMTs are required to complete a minimum of 48 clinical and field hours, requiring the assessment of live patients.

EMTs are trained to provide basic-level life support on people who are injured. EMTs are trained to perform:

  • CPR and Automated defibrillation
  • Artificial ventilation
  • Oxygen administration
  • Basic airway management
  • Spinal immobilization
  • Vital sign checks
  • Bandaging, splinting, and wound care

They are also trained to perform a variety of rescue operations:

  • Vehicle rescue
  • FEMA’s Incident Command System training
  • HazMat awareness

Paramedics

In addition to providing basic EMT care, Paramedics receive advanced training. Respond Right EMS Academy’s Paramedic program involves approximately 1,380 hours of classroom and lab education. In addition, Paramedic students are required to complete a minimum of 286 in-hospital clinical hours and 360 field internship clinical hours on the ambulance. In-hospital clinical rotations include the following departments:

  • ER
  • OR
  • ICU
  • OB
  • Pediatrics
  • Psychiatric
  • Burn

They are also responsible for administering 30-40 different medications via several different routes including:

  • Oral
  • Intra-muscular (IM)
  • Intravenous (IV)

Paramedics learn Advanced Cardiac and Pediatric Life Support as well as Advanced Trauma Life Support procedures, which are vital in the resuscitation of patients suffering from heart and respiratory problems as well as extensive traumatic injuries. Paramedics are also trained to interpret EKG results which are essential in helping determine the nature of the patient’s cardiac problems. Only Paramedics can use complex equipment used to provide advanced airway management.

If you have been thinking about a career in EMS as a Paramedic, EMT and/or Firefighter then Respond Right EMS Academy can help you.