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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What do they do ... ?
- What education and
certification is required ... ?
- What are the potential
earnings ... ?
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Emergency medical
technicians (or EMTs) and
paramedics
are the people who
arrive on the scene--minutes
after an accident or medical emergency--to give immediate care to
critically ill or injured people.
Dispatched by a 911 operator and often working as a firefighter or in
conjunction with police or fire, their work is literally a matter of life and
death. They must determine--quickly--the nature of a patient’s condition. Is a
patient unconscious because he is diabetic and has slipped into a coma? Has he
had a heart attack? Once EMTs have established the cause of a patient’s problem,
they do whatever they can to keep that patient alive and to prevent further
injury. En route to the hospital, EMTs and Paramedics monitor a patient’s vital
signs while simultaneously informing hospital personnel of what to expect when
they arrive at the emergency room door. Needless to say, this is a challenging
and stressful job, both physically and emotionally. EMTs must be fit enough to
kneel, bend and lift heavy objects throughout the day. They risk exposure to
contagious diseases, as well as violence from mentally unstable patients.
Emotionally they must be able to cope with continually seeing people in distress
or near death. Yes, the job can be exhilarating, but also depressing and
frustrating.
Emergency medical technicians and
Paramedics need to be trained in a program approved
by the Florida Department of Health's Office of
Emergency Medical Services. Many community colleges
and other organizations teach approved courses. In
addition, Like most states Florida requires EMTs and
Paramedics must have state EMS provider
certification.
EMT-Basic is the first level of
skills required to work in the emergency medical
system. Formal courses are combined with time in an
emergency room and an EMS Provider Service.
Coursework emphasizes basic emergency skills, such
as managing respiratory, cardiac and trauma
emergencies.
Prerequisites for admission to
EMT-Basic programs. Students must:
Have a High School Diploma or GED and
be at least 18 years old
Have not be convicted of any other
felonies within the last 5 years
Have a current Cardio-Pulmonary
Resuscitation (CPR) certification
Have a physical signed by a Doctor
The EMT-B certificate is a
prerequisite for Paramedic training.
After they pass basic level, EMTs can
progress through the Paramedic and Instructor
levels. Each level requires more work experience,
coursework and exams. Even after they have
qualified, EMTs and Paramedics must take refresher
courses and re-certify on a regular basis. The EMT
courses and Paramedic Courses are approved by the
Office of Emergency Medical Services and also
qualifies students to sit for the State Exam for EMT
or Paramedic Certification.
There
are levels of EMT/paramedic work. Each level
requires additional training and certification.
EMT-Basic, really represent the first level
of emergency care. They are trained to assess a
patient's condition, manage respiratory, cardiac,
and trauma emergencies, and to transport a victim to
the hospital.
Paramedics have the highest level of
training. In addition to performing all the duties
of other EMTs, paramedics may administer oral and
intravenous drugs, read electrocardiograms, perform
endotracheal intubations, and use monitors and other
complex equipment.
Advancement beyond the EMT-Paramedic
level usually means leaving field work to assume an
administrative or
supervisory
position in the field of
emergency management.
For instance, an EMT could become a public
information officer, a training officer, a
communications manager, a field supervisor,
operations manager, or chief executive officer
within an organization. Most of these positions
require an associate's degree or higher. Some EMTs
become instructors, and some move into
sales
or
marketing
of emergency medical equipment. Others decide to
train further as
physician assistants,
nurses,
or
doctors.
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Nationally, EMT-basics earned salaries in the $27,000 to $35,000 range in while
EMT-paramedics earned salaries in the $32,000 to $42,000 range. As paramedics
rise in the ranks to administrative positions they can earn salaries in the
$40,000 to $60,000 range and top administrative and executive directors can earn
salaries of as much as $75,000. EMTs working for a fire or police department
generally earn higher salaries and receive better benefits than those working
for hospitals.
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