Emergency Medical TechnicianJustin GardnerWest Los Angeles College

What does an EMT do?

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) care for the sick or injured in emergency medical situations. People’s lives often depend on their quick reaction and competent care. EMTs respond to emergency calls, perform medical services and transport patients to medical facilities.

Responsibilities of an EMT are:

Responding to 911 calls for emergency medical assistance, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), bandaging a wound, or administering oxygen.

Assessing a patient’s condition, taking vital signs and determining a course of treatment.

Using backboards and restraints to keep patients still and safe in an ambulance for transport.

Helping transfer patients to the emergency department of a healthcare facility and reporting their observations and treatments to the staff.

Maintaining composure in critical and stressful situations.

Star of Life:Six Main Tasks of EMS

Detection: Understanding the problem, identifying the dangers, ensure safety.

Reporting: The call for professional help is made.

Response: The first rescuers provide care to

the extent of their abilities.

On Scene Care: EMS personnel arrive and provide

immediate care.

Care in Transit: Patient is transported to hospital

by ambulance while treatment is continued.

Transfer to Definitive Care: Appropriate specialized care is

provided at the hospital.

It can get dangerous out there.

EMTs experience a much larger than average number of work-related injuries or illnesses. They are required to do considerable kneeling, bending, and lifting while caring for and moving patients.

They may be exposed to contagious diseases, such as hepatitis B and HIV. Sometimes they can be injured by mentally unstable or combative patients. During a 24 hour shift, its not unusual to work straight through without much

food or sleep.

Coffee is our friend!

The Tools and Equipment of the EMT

And most important of all…

Education, Training, and Certifications Required

EMT

National Registry Exam

Certificate of Completion

100 hours of didactic

10 hours of clinical

Certifications Needed

State EMT License Driver License

CPR Card Ambulance Driver Permit

Medical Examiner’s Certificate

State Ambulance Driver Certificate

Where can you work once you have your EMT license?

AMBULANCE COMPANY EMERGENCY ROOM

You can work alongside the Fire Department assisting with 911 calls.

You transport patients to the hospital, and transport patients back home.

You transport patients to medical appointments such as dialysis.

You can work alongside nurses and doctors.

Under supervision, you may be able to perform certain treatments outside of your scope of practice.

More hands on with advanced care.

Expected Earnings as an EMT

Salary Hourly Wage0

20000

40000

60000

911 Companies

ER Technician

$19,900.00

$9.56

$30,700.00

$14.77

$53,000.00

$25.50

Chart Title

911 Companies Interfacility TransportER Technician

Job Outlook

Employment for EMTs is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2016. Job prospects should be good, particularly in cities and private ambulance services.

Full-time paid EMTs will be needed to replace unpaid volunteers due to the training and large time commitment.

Demand will increase for EMTs due to the aging population of the baby boom generation.

Many job openings will arise from growth and from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation because of the limited potential for advancement.

Professional Organizations and Affiliations

-The National Association of State EMS Officials is the lead national organization for EMS, a respected voice for national EMS policy with comprehensive concern and commitment for the development of effective, integrated, community-based, universal and consistent EMS systems.

-To serve as the National EMS Certification organization by providing a valid, uniform process to assess the knowledge and skills required for competent practice by EMS professionals throughout their careers and by maintaining a registry of certification status.

-The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians represent and serve EMS practitioners, including paramedics, emergency medical technicians and emergency medical responders, through advocacy, educational programs and research.

References Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of

Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, EMTs and Paramedics, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/emts-and-paramedics.htm 

CareerOneStop. Occupation Profile: EMTs and Paramedics. 2011. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=292041&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=06&search=Go

O*Net OnLine. Summary Report for: EMTs and Paramedics. 2011. http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2041.00

EMS1.com. EMS 101: 5 important EMT responsibilities. 8 November 2011. http://www.ems1.com/careers/articles/1178726-5-important-EMT-responsibilities/

Wikipedia. "Star of Life." 26 September 2012. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_Life