EMT Job Overview

EMTs and Paramedics provide a vital service as they often are responsible for the urgent care and transport of the sick and injured to a medical facility.  EMTs and paramedics are usually dispatched by a 911 operator to the scene where the often will deal with automobile accidents, heart attacks, childbirth, gun shot wounds and a variety of situations that require immediate medical attention.

Upon arriving at a scene, EMTs will assess a patient’s condition and try and determine if there are any pre-existing medical conditions.  EMTs will then provide appropriate emergency medical care following accepted medical protocols and guideline.  Some paramedics can treat patients at the scene if they have the proper training and certification.

EMTs generally work in teams and use specialized equipment such as backboards etc.  When transporting a patient to a medical facility, one EMT tends to the patient while the other EMT drives the vehicle.  Some EMTs and paramedics also work as part of a Medical Flight operation to transport critically ill patients to trauma centers.

EMTs have different duties and responsibilities based on their training and certification.  An EMT's salary is often different based on their experience, training, and location. Typically, most EMTs are certified to one of five levels that are administered by NREMT, the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.  The five NREMT certifications are: First Responder, EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate/85, EMT-Intermediate/99 and Paramedic.  There are also state by state levels and licensure requirements that may differ from the NREMT’s certifications.