EMT Training - Paramedic Education Options
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011This is a field that is often misunderstood by the average person and thus I would like to give an overview on this topic. An EMT or Paramedic employee can be found in police work, fire department work, hospitals and private ambulance services. Even in private businesses, security facilities such as jails and prisons, and public industries such as casinos or amusement parks. All EMT paramedics, once certified, are required to re-certify every two years.
First of all this type of individual responds to emergency calls. Calls that involve any emergency requiring the quick response and competent care received from Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics. It is important to know that the quick and efficient way that the paramedic acts after receiving the 911 call is crucial to lives being saved every day.
How much education and training goes into being certified for this important line of work? You may want to know if the paramedic is required to study medicine or physiology. Let’s take a look:
Currently, in the U.S., there are about 201,000 paramedics employed in various levels of expertise. The most basic training involves giving emergency care along with transporting the patient via ambulance to area hospitals. Next, intermediate training involves more knowledge than basic of managing respiratory, trauma and cardiac arrest. In addition, the intermediate is taught how to administer some medications. The third level of expertise is simply called the EMT-Paramedic level. This level of training involves anatomy, physiology and advance medical skills.
Keep in mind, all fifty states and the District of Columbia offer EMT Training Programs. The education required can be found at many Community Colleges where the Associate’s Degree is offered. In addition to the required course work, up to 350 hours in training is also a part of the educational process. The school can offer its own certification exam or you can opt to take the corresponding State Exam. Once you pass the exam, it is required that you re-certify every two years.
If you are this very challenging profession, let me emphasize that this is not an ordinary 8 to 5 job. Weekends, shift work, emergency call just as you might be getting off a shift, the hours can be variable an unpredictable. In addition, dealing with life or death matters and suffering people every day can take its toll. The employee in this field can be exposed to diseases, illnesses, long hours, stressful response situations, and in addition, the heavy lifting, loud sirens and adverse weather also plays a part in the work conditions.
Hopefully this overview will help individuals understand just how advanced and important the training can be if you are seriously interested in this line of work. The best quality to have in doing EMT Paramedic work is to have the desire to help people and possible save a life. This is a quality that cannot be taught and no amount of training can achieve, and should you have it, you can rise to any of the adverse conditions and reform admirably.