What is Involved in EMT Training?

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When someone is hurt badly and in need of emergency care, it is the emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who come to the rescue. As an EMT, it’s important that you know your stuff. After all, lives are at stake and that’s where an EMT’s training comes into play. What is EMT training like and what do they learn?

First You Train to be a Basic

In most states, EMT’s have 3 levels: Basic, Intermediate, and Paramedics. No matter what level a person wants to reach, everyone has to go through training to be a Basic. Basic training can take 3 weeks for accelerated programs, up to 11 weeks, if you’re moving at a slower paced. At this level, students learn how to use the radio, drive the ambulance, and fill reports. Medical basics in training focus on how to analyze a patient need for care, take vitals like pulse and blood pressure, basic CPR, Patient immobilization, how to stop bleeding, and anatomy and physiology. After classes, students usually take a class exam then start their minimum 15 clinical hours where they will use what they learned in class on actual patients. Once clinical are completed, they take the national registry test, which is split between a written exam and a skills assessment, those who pass get their EMT Basic card and may work on an ambulance.

Intermediates Bridge the Gap for Basic to Paramedic

After completing the Basic, many EMTs seek to advance their training and become an Intermediate. Intermediates learned how to start IVs, use more advanced medications, and work with more advance airway treatments. Classes for Intermediates are usually more hands on than that for basic. After classes, intermediates do more clinical hours again and sit for another exam. What EMT Training for Intermediates involves greatly depends on the state the student is training in and sometimes intermediates are referred to as EMT Advanced.

Paramedic’s has to be able to lead an Ambulance

The top rank EMT will become a Paramedic and on a squad, what they say goes. EMT training for paramedics has a lot more cardiac issues involved; they learn how to read an EKG, and use chemicals and electrical defibrillators to jumpstart or keep a heart in rhythm. Paramedics also learn how to give blood and use more advanced medications. Becoming a Paramedic takes a full year after being an Intermediate, but that’s what it takes to be the person everyone turns to when the worse happens to a patient. After training, there are more clinical hours and another national exam.

EMT training can be tough, but it’s also truly rewarding, there are very few programs that teach a person how to save lives. Those who pass their Basic training earn the right to work aboard an ambulance. Intermediates are able to take a greater role in treating the patient. Paramedics become the masters of emergency medicine; leading the crew they’re with. If you’re considering this carrier path, you are encouraged to keep studying and land this exciting and meaningful job.