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A Career in Emergency
Medical Services
Brentwood EMS
provides ride-along opportunities for individuals interested in
learning more about a career in EMS. We provide the opportunity to
spend observation shifts with our staff during a normal shift. For
more information, please contact Brentwood EMS at 412-884-8740.
There are different levels of training available to EMS personnel.
What is a
First Responder?
A first responder course in generally 40 - 50 hours in length
offered by CCAC and the Center for Emergency Medicine. It is often a
starting point for high school students interested in a career in
EMS. This training provides basic emergency medical care principles.
Many firefighters, police officers and industrial safety teams take
this course because they can be the first persons to arrive at the
scene of an emergency.
What is an Emergency
Medical Technician (EMT)?
EMT’a are often the first level or entry-level training course in
the field of EMS. EMTs are trained at the basic life support level
that includes oxygen administration, vital sign monitoring, spinal
and extremity immobilization and automatic external defibrillation
(AED) and other non-invasive skills.
Requirements to be an EMT you must:
Be at least 16 years old
Enjoy working with people
Perform well under
stressful situations
Complete a 120 hour
classroom state approved course
Pass the state practical
and written skills examinations
Re-certify every three
years
Participate in continuing education
training
What is a Paramedic
(EMT-P)?
An individual who desires to become a paramedic must first complete
the EMT program and state examinations. A paramedic student will
engage in a more in depth study of pathophysiology of body functions
and illness/diseases. Many new, more advanced skills are introduced
as well as a unique discipline in which a close relationship and
understanding between Doctor and Paramedic must be developed. The
paramedic is the eyes, ears and hands of the physician at the scene
of an accident, private residence, nursing home, restaurant or other
public settings. Through key history gathering and physical
assessment a paramedic can determine the need for airway management,
ventilatory support, intravenous therapy, medication administration,
spinal and extremity immobilization as well as cardiac
defibrillation/cardioversion and transthoracic pacing. These are
just a few of the specialized skills a paramedic renders by
following approved protocols established by a physician medical
director.
To be a Paramedic you must:
 Be
certified as an EMT
Complete 600 hours of
classroom training
Complete 400-500 hours of
clinical (in hospital) and field training
Pass the state written
examination
Maintain a minimum of 18
hours continuing education per year
Be granted Medical Command
privileges from a licensed board certified emergency medicine
physician
Nature of EMS Work
People's lives often depend on the quick recognition and care of
emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics. Incidents or
calls for help fall into three basic categories: Emergency calls,
Non-emergency calls and Public Service calls. Emergency calls
include automobile accidents, heart attacks, falls with various
injuries, diabetic emergencies; difficulty breathing and gunshot
wounds all require immediate medical response and attention. EMS
personnel also respond to non-emergency call requests that involve
the transporting of patients to and from a medical facility. Public
service calls are assigned as emergency or urgent calls at the time
of dispatch and are only then classified public service calls after
EMS or other public safety personnel assess the situation. These
types of calls may or may not involve a patient at time of dispatch
or may not result in treatment and/or transport to a hospital. For
example, EMS will respond to fire, carbon monoxide and medical alert
alarm activations, as well as motor vehicle accidents with unknown
or possible injuries. EMS personnel also provide public education
training and health-monitoring programs, such as blood pressure
monitoring clinics.
Working Conditions
EMS personnel work both indoors and outdoors, in all types of
weather. The work schedules vary widely due to the nature of
providing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week services. They are required
to do considerable kneeling, bending and heavy lifting without
notice or certainty of the needs for the service. Safety is a very
important EMS training component that involves proper lifting a
moving techniques, an annual review of contagious diseases such as
Hepatitis and AIDS virus to avoid exposure, and due to societal
violence, a heightened awareness of avoiding personal harm while
attempting to provide emergency care. In addition to the physical
demands of EMS, EMTs and Paramedics must learn to manage the
emotional drain that occurs after being exposed to patients and
their families who endure pain and suffering or face life-or-death
situations. Nonetheless, helping someone in need or correcting a
life-threatening situation can be the most rewarding experiences you
will ever encounter.
Job Outlook
Employment of EMTs is expected to grow much faster than the average
for all occupations through 2008. Much of this growth will occur as
positions change from volunteer to career and as population grows
particular older age groups that are the users of emergency medical
services.
Possible employment opportunities:
Municipal EMS agencies
Fire Department based EMS
Emergency Dispatch Centers
Aeromedical (Flight)
Programs
Hospitals/Home Health Care
Private Ambulance Services
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