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Paramedic (EMT) Job Description

Paramedics are also known as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) or ambulance technicians. They assess injuries, administer emergency medical care, and extricate trapped individuals. The Paramedics transport injured or sick persons to medical facilities.

What is a paramedic?

A paramedic is a person who is responsible in providing emergency first-aid in different situation. They are often the first person who arrive at the emergency scene and administer basic life-saving procedures to the injured people.

Tasks for Paramedics

  • The Paramedic administers first-aid treatment and life-support care to sick or injured persons in prehospital setting.
  • The Paramedic performs emergency diagnostic and treatment procedures, such as stomach suction, airway management or heart monitoring, during ambulance ride.
  • The Paramedic observes, records, and reports to physicians the patient’s condition or injury, the treatment provided, and reactions to drugs and treatment.
  • The Paramedic immobilizes patients for placement on stretcher and ambulance transport, using backboard or other spinal immobilization device.
  • The Paramedic maintains vehicles and medical and communication equipment, and replenishes first-aid equipment and supplies.
  • The Paramedic assesses nature and extent of illness or injury to establish and prioritizes medical procedures.
  • The Paramedic communicates with dispatchers and treatments centers personnel to provide information about situation, to arrange reception of victims, and to receive instructions for further treatment.
  • The Paramedic comforts and reassures patients in times of crisis.
  • The Paramedic decontaminates ambulance interior following treatment of patient with infectious disease and report case to proper authorities.
  • The Paramedic operates equipment such as electrocardiograms (EKGs) external defibrillators and bag-valve mask resuscitators in advanced life-support environments.

Knowledge requirements for Paramedics

The Paramedic needs knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures. The Paramedic needs knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. The Paramedic needs knowledge of English language which includes the structure and content including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. The Paramedic needs knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. The Paramedic needs knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property and institutions. The Paramedic needs knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including relative costs and benefits. The Paramedic needs knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems. The Paramedic needs knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. The Paramedic needs knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance. The Paramedic needs knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Skills for Paramedic

  • The Paramedic uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • The Paramedic should actively be looking for ways to help people.
  • The Paramedic should have the skill to give full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • The Paramedic needs the skill to be aware of others’ reactions and understand why they react as they do.
  • The Paramedic needs the skill to talk to others to convey information effectively.
  • The Paramedic needs the skill to understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem solving and decision making.
  • The Paramedic needs the skill to adjust actions in relation to the actions of others especially in emergency situations.
  • The Paramedic needs the skill to consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • The Paramedic monitors performance of other individuals, organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • The Paramedic needs the skill of controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • The Paramedic needs the ability to listen and to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Condition of Work

Paramedic’s job may alter significantly depending on the workplace of the paramedic such as fire department, hospital or private ambulance services. Paramedics don’t have to drive an ambulance anymore as there are more available opportunities for rendering patient-care beyond conventional EMS or Emergency Medical Services.

Educational Requirements

Aspiring students should take many classes to prepare them for passing the certification test for paramedics as issued by the NREMT or the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. This program covers both field and clinical and experience. Additionally, paramedics should obtain a GED or high school diploma as well as prior work experience in any health care setting.

Occupation and Progress

Job prospects for paramedics and EMTs are expected to increase by 9% between 2006 and 2018 which is faster than an average for all jobs, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Paramedics also earn an average hourly salary of $15.88 and an annual average salary of $33,020.

Degrees and Training to Become Paramedics (EMT)

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