Saving lives has been their job for years, that’s what makes it all worth it. If saving people’s lives is your passion, then being an emergency medical technician is for you. Emergency medical technicians are individuals who are trained to give care to the injured and sick. With this, emergency medical technicians are the first people to arrive on the scene in situations like accidents, drowning, childbirth, heart attacks and so on. That is why EMT’s must have a strong stomach at all times and must perform every procedure while being under pressure. Emergency medical technicians are also one of those jobs having a high salary. Almost more than 50% of emergency medical technicians earn $25,500 to $35,000 a year. These numbers can still go high considering certain factors like geographic location, experience, training and education and etc.
So what do these emergency medical technicians do? EMT’s administer first-aid treatments to the sick and injured and move them to a medical facility while working as a member of the emergency medical team. These emergency medical technicians respond to emergency situations after the dispatcher has given them a call and then they will drive a specially equipped vehicle to the location of the accident. EMT’s uses a communication gadget in order to keep in touch with the dispatcher. They also assist in removing the victims from the scene into a safer location. After which, they will assess the patient and determine the extent and cause of the injuries and establishes a first aid procedure. They can also ask for additional assistance when needed. They should use their minds in thinking what kind of procedures to implement basing on their decisions and statement of people involved in the incident. Emergency medical technicians give first aid care by performing activities like applying splints, oxygen, and intravenous fluids. They also treat minor wounds and abrasions and even perform artificial resuscitation. It is also important for these emergency medical technicians to communicate well with other medical professionals at any medical facility to give them a hand by obtaining instructions about what treatments to do and to make sure that reception of victims are settled. Emergency medical technicians assist the removal of patients and also in controlling the crowd and protecting valuables.
Having an emergency medical technician education is important when one is aspiring to be an EMT. First step to do is to look for an emergency medical technician school offering the best curriculum. Before admission, having a high school diploma and GED are the main requirement. One is then required to finish an accredited emergency medical technician program that takes six months to 2 years to be finished and a certificate, diploma or associate degree depending on the programs they have chosen.
The program has three levels which are EMT- Basic, Intermediate and Paramedic. At each level, the responsibility of an EMT also increases. Those who had a basic training may prescribe nitroglycerin or inhalers. For the Intermediate they are allowed to start intravenous fluids and use defibrillators. For the highest level which is the paramedic, they can do a lot of variety of procedures.
