Overview of Emergency Medical Services Program

Overview of Emergency Medical Services Program

Dec 11, 2014 | 8:00 am

Who wouldn’t want to be an EMT? It’s fast paced, unpredictable and thrilling, as each call is different, and you get to help people every day. The price for such a rewarding job is an intense training process where you’ll learn everything from back braces to heart anatomy. Let’s take a look at what goes into making an EMT.

Where to Find Emergency Medical Services Classes

Finding EMT classes shouldn’t be hard since there are many different places that offer training programs in emergency medical service. Many colleges offer EMS programs especially technical colleges and will be similar to any other college program. Your State Fire Academy will have EMS classes, as well as those for fire fighters, so it may be a good option for those of you wanting to do both. Many departments will bring on certified trainers to train in-house and this allows departments to get their fire fighters to reach at least a basic level of skills. There are plenty of opportunities, so pick the one that fits your needs.

The Different Ranks in Emergency Medical Services

EMTs are broken down into 3 ranks. Basic involves training in basic emergency medical care like driving the squad, taking vitals, and applying dressings. Intermediate bridges the gap between paramedics and basics, as they learn how to use a greater range of medications and can administer IVs. Paramedics learn how to give all the medications an EMT can and focuses extensively on cardiac based treatments. While it’s possible to go directly to paramedic, you will have to take all the exams in-between.

What Classes Are Like

Classes are an even split between hands-on training and lectures. Classes can be taken over 3 weeks or a couple of months, so long as the mandatory 120 to 150 hours per state are met. To become a paramedic, it takes an additional year from being an intermediate. You’ll want a small class size, so you can ask questions and get time with the instructor, as there’s a lot to take in. Once classes are done and exam is passed, EMT’s must complete 10 clinical hours where they try out their skills on real patients.

Exams

At each level of emergency medical service, there’s a test known as the National Registry. The registry is both a written and hands-on skill assessment. Participants must score 95 percent in competency on the written exam and must show they are competent in administering all the asked treatments during the practical exam. If a student doesn’t pass the registry, they may re-sign up after 15 days and up to 6 times. The test can be grueling, but those that pass have the skills to save lives.

As you can see, there’s a lot of training for an EMT and it’s as fast paced as the job, but it’s for competent people that others are willing to trust their lives in during an emergency.