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Emergency Medical Technician - Career Profile |
Career OverviewEmergency medical technicians are known as EMTs. As their title suggests, they respond to calls by or for people in medical distress and are trained to perform a wide range of lifesaving techniques. They encounter a variety of emergency situations: vehicle and industrial accidents, heart attacks, bodily injuries resulting from accidents or violence, cases of poisoning, cases of drug overdose, childbirth, drownings, and situations involving the emotionally disturbed.
EMTs are often the first medical responders to traumatic injuries and acute illnesses and are directed to the scenes of such medical emergencies by police, fire departments, hospitals, or emergency service dispatchers. They receive preliminary information about the medical problems so that they can prepare the necessary equipment en route.
Arriving on the scene, EMTs assess the situation and note the patient’s vital signs. They determine whether hospitalization is required and make any necessary arrangements to have the patient transferred. If hospitalization is not necessary, the EMT will prioritize the emergency and initiate whatever therapeutic treatment is required.
When appropriate, EMTs drive patients to emergency rooms and report the vital signs and details of any treatment that has already been given to the attending emergency staff.
There are three qualification levels for EMTs. The individual’s level determines what procedures they can perform. The three levels are: EMT-basic, EMT-intermediate, and EMT-paramedic.
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Career RequirementsTo apply to become an EMT, individuals must be at least eighteen years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and a valid driver’s license.
To become an EMT-basic, individuals must complete at least 110 hours of training in emergency medical care techniques. Trainees are taught to handle emergencies such as bleeding, fractures, shock, soft-tissue, trauma, cardiac arrest, internal injuries, childbirth, and ingestion of toxic substances.
An EMT-Intermediate has taken courses in patient assessment, shock management, advanced airway maintenance, and intravenous fluid provision.
EMT-Paramedics have at least 700 hours of coursework, including hospital clinical practice and a supervised field internship. Training for EMT-Paramedics typically lasts at least nine months.
At every level, EMTs are registered with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians once they have met the requirements for training, field experience, and examination. Each state has it’s own certifying agency.
More information is available from the following organizations:
The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
P.O. Box 1400,
Clinton, MS 39060
www.naemt.org
The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
Rocco V. Morando Building,
6610 Busch Blvd.,
P.O. Box 29233,
Columbus, OH43229
www.nremt.org
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Job OutlookThe job market potential for EMTs is above average. The best opportunities are with police and fire departments, as well as emergency rescue teams across the country. In the future, however, most of the opportunities will be with hospitals and private ambulance services.
The job outlook in the foreseeable future is considered to be above average.
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Career TrackAdvancement for EMTs follows the three tiers of qualifications detailed above. EMT-basics are promoted, with training, education, and experience, to become EMT-Intermediates. EMT-Intermediates, with a minimum 700-hours of training, including clinical training, become EMT-paramedics.
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CompensationThe income range for EMTs falls between $28,000 and $43,000 per year for most positions. Income in level dependent but most positions also offer a range of other benefits, including medical and dental insurance, tuition reimbursement, and paid vacations.
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