Course lasts up to 140 hours
People's lives often depend on the quick reaction and competent care of emergency medical technicians (EMTs). There are incidents that require emergency medical care, such as:
EMTs provide this vital service as they care for and transport the sick or injured to the appropriate medical facility.
In an emergency, EMTs are quite often dispatched by a 911 operator to the scene, where they often work with police and firefighters. Once on the scene, EMTs assess the patient's condition while trying to determine whether the patient has any pre-existing medical conditions as well as the severity of the condition.
Using pre-determined protocols, they provide emergency care and transport the patient to the appropriate medical facility. EMTs operate in emergency medical services systems where a physician provides medical direction and oversight.
EMTs 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. They typically work in teams of two or more. During the transport of a patient, one EMT drives while the other monitors the patient's vital signs and gives additional care as needed.
