Being an EMT (emergency medical technician) is not easy, especially in the world we live in. Luckily, medical technology has evolved to make it easier for medical staff to help those in need. Most emergency department visits result in hospital admissions in the US, therefore showing an increased need for EMT professionals.
This career means more than intervening in medical emergencies. It implies communication between you, the injured people and the medical staff. Sometimes, you’ll need to be on your own feet but other times you may need support. Do you think you can make it? Here’s what future opportunities are out there if you choose to be an EMT.
Required education
There are four levels of certification in the US that you can’t do independently. You need to start with an EMR certification, then EMT, AEMT and end with being a paramedic. Therefore, in order to get where you want, you first start with the most basic level of training, EMR (emergency medical responder).
In this phase, you’ll learn to volunteer in rural communities or for rescuing personnel. Your job is to arrive at the accident place and assess the situation while stabilizing the patient until the ambulance comes. With the main First Aid Vaughan knowledge, you’ll be able to do CPR, airway management and administer basic medication. You’ll need 40-80 hours of training to get this qualification. You’ll need 40-80 hours of training to get this qualification. Then, you’ll get to the next level, the EMT training NYC course.
As an emergency medical technician, you’ll gain more information, but you’ll also have more responsibilities. This includes (but is not limited to) bleeding control, taking care of fractures and childbirth. To be able to do all that you need more training hours, from 120 to 300. Besides classroom practice, you also need to participate in clinical rotations in more medical areas (emergency medicine, surgery, psychiatry) at the hospital.
If you want to advance…
You need to climb the other two certifications. As an AEMT (Advanced emergency medical technician), you’ll be able to provide intermediate life support or basic cardiac monitoring for another 100 to 300 training hours.
The final license is for being a paramedic, which requires another 1.500 to 2.500 practice hours. In this position, you’ll perform the same practices as the previous qualifications, plus more responsibilities, like teaching people how to use a first aid kit. Paramedics can work in an ambulance, in a community or at the patients’ homes, making it necessary to wear a protective uniform. If you want more than that, you can advance to a team leader, emergency care practitioner and even get into education and training research.
Needed skills
EMTs need to have technical and soft skills to put up with the various medical situations they get into. To be a professional technician, you need problem-solving skills to evaluate symptoms and find the appropriate treatment quickly. While that’s the most important value, you’ll also need to be compassionate, a good listener and communicator. Most of your work will mean talking to patients and other coworkers, so it’s not a place for assumptions when it comes to someone’s life. Finally, you need physical strength because you might need to lift people or bend/kneel to get to them when they’re stuck in a narrow place.In order to acquire the needed skills to become an EMT you need to follow some classes. It’s easy to find an organization that provides such courses, search online. What are some EMT classes near me? Once you get a list of possible institutions to provide you with the necessary education, compare their services and pick the one that better suits your needs.
What does an EMT do?
EMTs have many things to do and check through their day. At the same time, some days might get busier than others (hotter days lead to a higher hospitalization rate). But your schedule will usually look like this:
- The first thing in the morning is to ensure that the ambulances are equipped and safe to drive (these check-ups must be performed between the emergencies too, by cleaning, disinfecting and restocking medical supplies)
- Then, you might also need to fill in some paperwork in case you’re only responding to emergency calls, like detailed reports about the incident.
- Sometimes you’ll transport patients to hospitals. In these cases, you must inform the medical staff about the patient’s conditions or what treatment was provided.
Job opportunities
As an EMT, you’ll never worry about getting a job because the medical staff shortage is a concern in the healthcare industry due to the pandemic’s consequences. The basic requirements for this career are the first two certifications. In some places, you’ll also need a BLS certification (Basic Life Support) and an ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) diploma. You’ll also need a driver’s license and auto insurance in some cases. An EMT has many job opportunities, like:
- Lifeguard (monitors pools, lakes, and water parks. Rescues people and performs first aid when necessary)
- Firefighter (provides fire rescue services and essential health care when needed)
- Medical assistant (welcomes patients, schedules appointments and assists healthcare providers)
- Emergency dispatcher (takes emergency calls and directs them to the proper authorities)
- Emergency room technician (works in the hospital by monitoring blood pressure or collecting diagnostic samples)
- Health information technician (takes care of administrative duties and ensures data accuracy and security regarding patient’s medical records)
Advantages of working as an EMT
With so many technology updates, EMTs’ job gets easier regarding the technical methods used. Besides that, the job has its advantages and satisfactions, for example:
- You are saving lives by providing the suitable care for each patient and know how to administer medication.
- You are constantly developing by learning more information, as much as growing as a person. You’ll be more confident in yourself; therefore, people will trust you.
- Stability, through many job opportunities and career advancement.
- You’ll get out of your comfort zone.
- You’ll always be in good shape.
Final observations
If you like taking responsibility for your own actions and have critical-thinking skills, you might want to try being an EMT. Not only you’ll have the satisfaction of saving people’s lives, but you’ll also get to see the world of medical emergencies and continuously learn. If you’re looking for training courses in New York, be assured you’ll find professionals that will support you in your career path.