“Someone designated or trained to respond to an emergency” is the dictionary definition of the term First Responder (FR), and often they are the very first to act to an emergency situation. In addition, there is so much that entails the profession of one who “responds to an emergency.” This specialized pre-EMT training sends the person to several variations of emergencies ranging from accidents and natural disasters such as tornados, fire, and floods, to the extreme with apocalyptic events such as war and terrorist attacks. The job of an FR can also be found as a first step for international training in emergency medical professions.
The First Responder provides on-site, per-hospital care and assistance. First Responders are trained and certified to take care of a wide array of medical emergencies and disaster situations. The primary and initial action of the FR will be to quickly assesses emergency situations, call for an ambulance (if necessary), and administers first aid.
Certification requires:
- Obtaining CPR certification from a certified healthcare entity. This can be found through the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, and other venues.
- Enroll and pass a state-approved First Responder Course. The curriculum seven modules divided and spread out for a total of 26 lessons that address patient assessment, patient care preparation, airway management, circulation, medical emergencies, illnesses, infant care, situations involving childbirth, and EMS operations. The average certification is approximately 40 hours and takes around 30 days to complete.
- Upon completion of the course, take the Certification Exam for Career Advancement. The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) provides certification and recertification exams to potential First Responders. Applicants must pass cognitive and psychomotor examinations, which are taken through a state licensing agency and the NREMT.
Some countries and territories have what is referred to as a Community First Responder, which is a person dispatched to attend medical emergencies until an ambulance arrives. They are similar to the American occupation of and EMT. They are often public personnel who have received fundamental training tactics pertaining to life saving skills including defibrillation, CPR, and basic first aid, including infant and child injuries. Community FRs tend to be found in the emergency healthcare programs of the United Kingdom, Israel, and Australia.
Another EMS occupation is a Wilderness First Responder. This is a highly trained profession as this emergency medical Responder needs to provide pre-hospital care in remote settings and often without the convenience of extra medical supplies, equipment, and transportation. A Wilderness First Responder is educated and certified to take care of many incidents and catastrophes which can occur in the back woods and remote areas. The training is especially aimed at and designed for lay providers with minimal medical experience, though they are usually professionals in other aspects of the outdoors industry, like park rangers, climbing instructors, and wilderness guides.
First Responders must keep up their certification EMS training and maintain physical and mental health, especially because they are exposed to a high level of stress and risks. And despite the fact that they cannot assist in areas as complex as that of a paramedic, they, too, are exposed to dangers and hazards. In fact, in 2003 it was First Responders who were many of the earliest victims of the previously unknown SARS virus, because they first on hand to assist and care for patients affected with the virus. First to respond, and often, first to sacrifice.