EMS Offers Advanced Services

People's lives often depend on the quick reaction and competent care of emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and paramedics (EMT-Ps) with additional advanced training to perform more difficult pre-hospital medical procedures. Incidents as varied as automobile accidents, heart attacks, drownings, childbirth, and gunshot wounds all require immediate medical attention. EMTs and paramedics provide this vital attention as they care for and transport the sick or injured to a medical facility.

Modern EMS Provide Skilled Services

Depending on the nature of the emergency, EMTs and paramedics typically are dispatched to the scene by a 911 operator and often work with police and fire department personnel. Once they arrive, they determine the nature and extent of the patient's condition while trying to ascertain whether the patient has preexisting medical problems.

EMTs and paramedics may use special equipment such as backboards to immobilize patients before placing them on stretchers and securing them in the ambulance for transport to a medical facility.

Pre-hospital treatments by EMS personnel can include the use of wound dressings, intravenous fluids and medications, manual cardiac defibrillators, advanced airway techniques and respiratory equipment, and other complex respiratory, cardiac, and trauma emergency monitoring devices, medications and supplies.

EMTs and paramedics work both indoors and outdoors, in all types of weather. They are required to do considerable kneeling, bending, and heavy lifting. These workers risk noise-induced hearing loss from sirens and back injuries from lifting patients. In addition, EMTs and paramedics may be exposed to diseases such as Hepatitis-B and AIDS, as well as violence from drug overdose victims or mentally unstable patients.

The work is not only physically strenuous, but also emotionally stressful, involving life-or-death situations and suffering patients. Nevertheless, many individuals find the EMS work exciting and challenging and enjoy the opportunity for helping others.

(Images courtesy of Clayton Anstis, NREMT-P)