There are three levels of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – EMT Basic, EMT Intermediate and EMT Paramedics. These levels are established by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). NREMT awards certificates to the candidates who pass a certain level or program.
EMTs and Paramedics are people with special training and skills who save the lives of people in time of emergency. They provide pre-hospital care and treatment. They are trained to take prompt and appropriate actions in high-stress and emergency situations. The job of a paramedic is a critical one as it involves saving lives of other people which is not an easy task. As the paramedic is the advanced level of EMT the duties and responsibilities of paramedics also require advanced skills.
There are many schools and colleges that train the EMTs and Paramedics. To enroll in a school a candidate has to satisfy certain requirements. A candidate must have a secondary school diploma or equivalent to become an EMT. To become a certified paramedic the education of a paramedic requires a graduate diploma and passing the national registry EMT examination. The first and foremost requirement is that the person applying for EMT and Paramedic must have the temperament and aptitude that is needed to cope up with emergency high-stress situations while staying calm. If a person do not have the temperament required of paramedics his certificate would be of no use and hiss passing the EMT and Paramedic exam would prove a fruitless effort.
Classes and training
For a paramedic it is essential that he has passed other levels of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). At the advanced level of paramedic, the EMT learns additional skills and treatment. They learn more about body functions and physiology than other EMT levels. They have more coursework and practical experience in clinic and other medical care centers than EMTs. And because of their extensive experience and training they get paid jobs and do not have to be volunteers. The training of the paramedics usually consists of between 750-1,500 hours of classroom and field instruction. Reaching this level requires a lot of studying and practice on the part of the candidate, but becoming a Paramedic increases their chances of getting a rewarding and valuable job. When candidates complete the studies-practical and theory- at the level of paramedic, which is the highest level, they are certified. The scope for EMT paramedics has widened a great deal in this age of urbanization and they get paid jobs than the EMT basics that have to work voluntarily.
Duties and Responsibilities
Duties and responsibilities of paramedics include all the responsibilities of EMT and also other advanced duties. This is the highest level of EMT and they are more authorized to use intravenous fluids, medications and drugs without permission of a doctor. Their duty is to help the patients who are in life and death situation. They are supposed to treat the patients while they are being transferred to the hospital or medical care centers. They can get jobs in fire or police departments and work in hospitals and ambulances.