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Career Details : Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics

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Description

Assess injuries, administer emergency medical care, and extricate trapped individuals. Transport injured or sick persons to medical facilities.

Experience

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a drywall installer might benefit from experience installing drywall, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be an installer with little difficulty.

Education

These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.

Training

Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.

Tasks

  • Administers first-aid treatment and life-support care to sick or injured persons in prehospital setting.
  • Monitors patient's condition, using electrocardiograph.
  • Assists treatment center personnel to obtain and record victim's vital statistics and to administer emergency treatment.
  • Communicates with treatment center personnel to arrange reception of victims and to receive instructions for further treatment.
  • Maintains vehicles and medical and communication equipment and replenishes first-aid equipment and supplies.
  • Drives mobile intensive-care unit to specified location, following instructions from emergency medical dispatcher.
  • Assists treatment center personnel to obtain information relating to circumstances of emergency.
  • Observes, records, and reports patient's condition and reactions to drugs and treatment to physician.
  • Assists in removal and transport of victims to treatment center.
  • Assesses nature and extent of illness or injury to establish and prioritize medical procedures.

    Related Careers

    Important Abilities

    General Work Activities

    Important Skills

    Frequent Work Context

    • Consequence of Error
    • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
    • Job-Required Social Interaction
    • Responsible for Others' Health & Safety
    • Importance of Being Sure All Is Done

    Related Majors

    Major Add to MyFSA
    Emergency Medical Servicesadd Emergency Medical Services to MyFSA
    Emergency Medical Services Managementadd Emergency Medical Services Management to MyFSA
    Emergency Medicineadd Emergency Medicine to MyFSA
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